Law-enforcement sources said the victim was
Park authorities said a trainer was in a whale
holding area when she apparently slipped or fell into the tank and was
fatally injured by one of the park’s killer whales.
Authorities provided few immediate details, but two witnesses told
that one of the park’s whales had the woman by the upper arm, tossing
her around in its mouth as it swam rapidly around and around in the
tank.
Brazilian tourist
The couple said they watched the whale show at the
park two days earlier and came back to take pictures. But Wednesday
afternoon the whales appeared agitated before the incident occurred.
“It was terrible. It’s very difficult to see the image,” Sobrinho said.
The woman was bleeding from the face or mouth, they said, and the whale turned her over and over as it swam.
Other eyewitnesses who were in the park for the
Dining with Shamu program, which features a private buffet next to the
killer whale habitat, told the Sentinel that a female trainer was
petting a whale when it grabbed her and plunged back into the water
with her. The whale reappeared on the other side of the tank.
“It is with great sadness that I report that one of
our most experienced animal trainers drowned in an incident with one of
our killer whales this afternoon,” SeaWorld President
Brown said no
ever before experienced a similar incident and pledged a thorough
review of all of the park’s standard operating procedures.
“This is an extraordinarily difficult time for the
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, his voice breaking slightly. “We extend our deepest sympathies to
the family and friends of the trainer and will do everything possible
to assist them in this difficult time.”
The whale that is used primarily for the Dining with
Shamu program is named Tillikum, and that whale has been involved in at
least one other incident at the park.
Tillikum, nicknamed “Tilly,” has a controversial
past. The large whale was blamed for the drowning of one of his
trainers in 1991 while he was performing at Sealand of the Pacific in
Sold to
1992, the whale was involved in a second incident when authorities
discovered the body of a naked man lying across his back in
Authorities later concluded the man, who had either snuck into
But they also said it appeared Tillikum had bit the
man and tore off his swimming trunks, likely believing he was a toy to
play with.
A former contractor with
in the past. In 2005, a trainer was injured by what park officials
called an “overly excited” whale that bumped the trainer during a live
performance. The injuries were minor.
Many animal-rights activists have long criticized
“Captivity is abusive to these animals. And the
abuse mounts up. And when these animals snap — just for a minute —
they’re so big and can be so dangerous that it’s like a shotgun,”
Rector said. “It does an incredible amount of damage in just a moment.”
—
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