Whale that killed trainer returns to SeaWorld show

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - The killer whale that drowned a trainer at Orlando's SeaWorld facility last year is slated to perform for the first time since the incident.

SeaWorld officials say Tilikum will participate in the park's "Believe" show beginning Wednesday morning.

Tilikum drowned 40-year-old Dawn Brancheau on Feb. 24, 2010, and has not participated in a show since then, while park officials are spending millions making safety upgrades.

Plans to get trainers back in the water with the whales progressed earlier this month despite findings last summer by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that accused SeaWorld of recklessly putting trainers in danger.

SeaWorld Animal Training Curator Kelly Flaherty Clark says they feel it's an important part of Tilikum's physical, social and mental enrichment to be back in the water.


http://www.buffalonews.com/wire-feed...icle379857.ece

I have been to Sea World several times over the years. They have great whale, dolphin, and other animal shows. This whale should not be allowed to return. He has already killed three people. Use him as a stud, or whatever, but he should not be allowed to perform with people. Who will he kill next?

SeaWorld Animal Training Curator Kelly Flaherty Clark says they feel it's an important part of Tilikum's physical, social and mental enrichment to be back in the water.

LOL...I would think so! Shouldn't a killer whale be in the water all the time?

Should be in the SEA - of course you get behavioural issues when you put an intelligent animal into close confinement for years...... don't blame the whale.

That would be ideal, but how do you find a pod for it to live with?

After all these years away from it's habitat, it wouldn't last long alone.

Originally Posted by SamanthaJane13

That would be ideal, but how do you find a pod for it to live with?

After all these years away from it's habitat, it wouldn't last long alone.

You're right of course. It's a shame that people will put all the effort into catching and confining these animals, but no resources into returning them to their natural environment once they prove less than ideal in captivity.

Human nature I suppose...

You couldn't release it back into the wild, other whales would kill it. They have to live in pods to survive and a pod would kill it if it tried to join them. I think they should let it remain at Seaworld, the trainers know the risk they take with all these animals. At any time they could be attacked by any of the killer whales and they know this when they take on the job.

Not to mention a lot of Seaworld's whales are captive born now. Their facilities are top notch. People are killed by the family dog each year... somewhere around 20 per year. Should we all immediately stop all keeping of dogs?

The whale is an abberration but it's being cared for by experts. Seaworld will not have trainers in the water with THAT whale, and that was already the rule. The trainer wasn't in the water when the whale pulled her in and killed her. Should they continue to have him in the shows? Maybe.. if they have a lot of precautions and special training methods for that particular whale.

They cannot release him for obvious reasons. They cannot lock him in a pool with no stimulation. They will do the best things according to their experts and hopefully no one else will get injured or worse. Keeping any 'dangrous' animals will eventually end up with a person getting hurt at some point. Accidents can happen and animals will act out of the norm.

Originally Posted by Wolfy-hound

Keeping any 'dangrous' animals will eventually end up with a person getting hurt at some point. Accidents can happen and animals will act out of the norm.

So what you're saying is that everytime someone keeps a dangeroud animal, it will end up with someone getting hurt? Wow, now can really see why BSL keeps rearing its ugly head up time and time again.

Seriously though, if you're going to make that claim, you're implying that every large breed dog has harmed someone at some point, every large constrictor/venomous snake has, every horse, etc. That's pretty ridiculous, especially for a reptile forum post.

Originally Posted by ThomasHicks

Seriously though, if you're going to make that claim, you're implying that every large breed dog has harmed someone at some point, every large constrictor/venomous snake has, every horse, etc. That's pretty ridiculous, especially for a reptile forum post.

Ridiculous, yes. Truth? Yes. Dogs kill people, large constrictors kill people, horses kill people.