Killer Whale Kills Trainer

The Shamu show in SeaWorld amusement park, Orlando, Florida, featuring a killer whale ended in the death of the whale trainer. The star of the show, 22 foot whale Tilikum, pulled his trainer Dawn Brancheau into the water and thrashed her around till she drowned in front of a horrified audience. After the show in Shamu Stadium, trainer Dawn Brancheau "was interacting with Tilikum, and petting him on the nose, when the trainer's ponytail swung in front of him. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her and held her underwater," the head of animal training at SeaWorld, Chuck Tompkins said.

According to officials at SeaWorld, the trainers had to coax the aggressive whale into a smaller pool and use a platform to take it out of water before they could free the victim. The Wednesday's death was not the first time a whale trainer was attacked at SeaWorld parks.

In 1991, Tilikum, whose name means 'Friend' in Chinook language, along with two female killer whales drowned Keltie Byrne, a trainer at a British Columbia park and in 1999, the killer whale killed 27-year-old Daniel Dukes, who had sneaked into the SeaWorld tank to swim with whales. Following the incident, whale trainers were forbidden to swim with the 12,000 pound orca. 40 year old, Dawn Brancheau, was the park's best trainer, having 16 years experience with animals. She was one of the half dozen SeaWorld trainers who were allowed near the killer whale.

SeaWorld closed its Orlando park immediately after Wednesday's tragedy, and suspended its show. "We've initiated an investigation to determine, to the extent possible, what occurred," SeaWorld President Dan Brown said. "This is an extraordinarily difficult time for the SeaWorld parks and our team members. Nothing is more important than the safety of our employees, guests, and the animals entrusted to our care," Brown said, pledging to review the park's standard operating procedures.

According to latest information, SeaWorld's head trainer has said that Tilikum will not be isolated from other killer whales at the Orlando park. "The whale plays an important role in the social group of eight whales who live at Shamu Stadium. He's the father of some whales and will continue to mate with other females."

Meanwhile, animal rights activists are raising questions about keeping large predators in captivity. Killer whales are known to be a highly social species.