SeaWorld Whale Became "Neurotic"

According to a veteran whale trainer, interviewed by CNN today, whales become "neurotic" when in captivity. I agree with this opinion, as they are ferocious creatures that are essentially being confined. What were the whales' crimes to be confined, other than wearing white after Labor Day.

Tillikum, the whale responsible for the death of SeaWorld trainer, Dawn Brancheau, has been in captivity for 30 years, after being captured off the coast of Iceland. He's clearly been getting tired of it and lashing out via violence, which spelled three deaths in separate incidents.

It was reported he shook Brancheau violently. He was clearly angry. Park visitors also reported yesterday, the whales were not cooperating before the incident transpired, refusing to follow instructions during the show.

This supports the Judiciary Report's claim from two days ago that such wild animals do not like being told what to do. They are only cooperative at times, because they are captive and feel they have no choice, if they wish to be fed and cared for.

However, Tillikum is being kept confined at SeaWorld for money, as he is worth millions to the company. Once again, the Judiciary Report is not knocking SeaWorld, but the whales should not be in captivity. God did not design them for it.

Biologists: Killer whales 'neurotic' in captivity

February 25, 2010 9:25 p.m. EST - ...Spectators who had attended the whale show before Brancheau was killed reported that the whales were not behaving -- "they weren't following instructions," Lori Miller, SeaWorld visitor, said.

This suggests that the whales had something going on socially among themselves, Ventre said. "It's probably reasonable to suspect that something going on amongst the whales themselves may have triggered the frustration," he said.

Ventre speculated that there may be more restrictions placed on who can work with the whale, but it's unclear whether much can be done -- someone still has to feed Tilikum 300 pounds of fish a day, administer medication and perform other daily tasks with the animal. Tilikum is also part of an artificial insemination program, which means someone has to roll him over and extract sperm from him.

"This is one of the inherent risks of working with animals like orcas or elephants, or walruses or even California sea lions," he said. "This kind of stuff happens."

http://www.cnn.com

Whale Slaps Trainer Off Stage

A, er, graceful whale pimp slapped his trainer right off the stage at SeaWorld in 2008. More proof that they should not be in captivity. It is not their natural habitat. It is also rather sad to watch such amazing creatures do tricks, when they are among the masters of the sea.

The Whale Went Postal

In the February 24. 2010 Column, I stated the tragic death of Seaworld trainer, Dawn Brancheau, 40, was due to, "A killer whale living up to its name" in violently shaking her in a death grip at the aquarium, after snatching her off the edge of a tank.

Apparently, Seaworld does not agree with me, as they stated a day later on CNN, "To mark him (Tillikum) as a killer is unfair." I didn't mark the whale a killer, someone else did in affixing the world "killer" to the species name and with good reason.

Once is an accident, not three times, as Tillikum has been blamed for the deaths of two other people, in addition to Brancheau, who must have been terrified when she realized what was happening to her, during the tragic incident. That was a terrible way to die.

I'm not knocking Seaworld, as they've brought joy to many kids with their shows, just pointing out what is the obvious in a hazard to human life. Tillikum got tired of performing the show.

I don't dislike the animal either, as I think they are beautiful creatures, but one has to understand them for who they are and the danger they pose to humans.

It's difficult to domesticate a wild animal (why some women don't realize that before they marry gigolos is another mystery).

SeaWorld trainer died from traumatic injuries, drowning, officials say

February 25, 2010 - Rescuers were not immediately able to reach Brancheau because of the "whale's aggressive nature," the sheriff's office said.

A witness told CNN affiliate WKMG-TV that the whale approached the glass side of the 35-foot-deep tank at Shamu Stadium, jumped up and grabbed Brancheau by her waist, shaking her so violently that her shoe came off. A SeaWorld employee, who asked not to be identified, described the incident the same way.

Tilikum has been linked to two other deaths...

A spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called the death "a tragedy that didn't have to happen."

Jaime Zalac said the organization had called on SeaWorld "to stop confining oceangoing mammals to an area that to them is like the size of a bathtub, and we have also been asking the park to stop forcing the animals to perform silly tricks over and over again. It's not surprising when these huge, smart animals lash out."...

"This is the first time in 46 years that we've ever had an incident like this with a trainer," he said. Although Tilikum is large and has to be handled carefully, "to mark him as a killer is unfair."

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/02/25

Killer Whale Kills Trainer At Florida Seaworld

Killer Whale Indeed

A killer whale lived up to his name and reputation today, in the death of his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, 40. Tillikum the Killer Whale, killed a trainer and a park visitor in the past, yet was deemed safe for shows at Seaworld in Orlando, Florida. This decision cost Brancheau her life.

The whale most likely got tired of the show. There is a danger in taming wild animals, as they are instinctive, territorial and dislike being told what to do.

The Judiciary Report realizes trainers love their animals, but when one has such a distinct history for murder, the mammal should not be accessible to any human.

SeaWorld Trainer Killed By Whale ID'd

UPDATED: 7:13 pm EST February 24, 2010 - A sheriff's official said Dawn Brancheau, 40, was the trainer who was killed. Emergency personnel were called to the park just after 2 p.m. and found a person dead, according to Orange County Fire Rescue spokesman John Mulhall.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to the theme park after receiving a call that an employee had been attacked and injured in the "killer whale tank" in front of an audience.

Brancheau was a senior trainer at the theme park. She was pronounced dead at the park after being pulled from the tank, the sheriff's office said...

Witness Victoria Biniak said she saw the deadly incident from a viewing area.

"The trainer was explaining different things about the whale and then the trainer that was down there walked away from the window. Then Telly (the whale) took off really fast in the tank and he came back, shot up in the air, grabbed the trainer by the waist and started thrashing (her) around," Biniak said. "He was thrashing her around pretty good. It was violent."

Biniak said the attack was so violent that it caused the trainer's shoe to fly off...

http://www.clickorlando.com