Killer whale linked to three deaths performing again people, three

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Killer whale linked to three deaths performing again



A killer whale that's been involved in the deaths of three people — including a Canadian — is back in the spotlight after a hiatus of more than a year.


Tilikum appeared in SeaWorld's current killer whale show "Believe" Wednesday morning after SeaWorld Parks Entertainment president Jim Atchison signed off on the decision this week.


The decision is drawing howls of outrage from animal rights activists who accuse SeaWorld of overriding safety concerns in favour of putting a money-making attraction back to work.


"SeaWorld's decision to recklessly put Tilikum back in its shows is irresponsible and dangerous for both Tilikum and their employees," said Ashley Byrne, senior campaigner for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "It shows that SeaWorld really only cares about what's best for its bottom line."


Tilikum has not appeared in any shows since his Feb 24, 2010 performance at SeaWorld Orlando, when the 12,000-pound animal pulled his trainer Dawn Brancheau into the water by her ponytail and violently shook her, causing fatal injuries.


The deaths of two other people have been linked to Tilikum. Keltie Byrne, 20, an assistant trainer at Sealand of the Pacific near Victoria, drowned in 1991 after she fell into the water and was dragged below the surface by Tilikum and two female whales, Haida and her calf Nootka. The naked body of Daniel Dukes was found draped over Tilikum's back in July 1999 after he sneaked into SeaWorld after hours to swim with the animals.


Byrne said PETA will hold a demonstration outside the Orlando SeaWorld facility Wednesday afternoon.


"Tilikum and the other orcas who suffer at SeaWorld have nothing to do but to swim in endless circles and be in tanks full of chemically treated water. The stress and frustration from such an unnatural environment for an animal that should be swimming up to 100 miles a day in the wild is a recipe for disaster," Byrne said.


Byrne said she thinks it is time to start the process of releasing Tilikum and other orcas SeaWorld has in captivity to a seaside sanctuary.


In a statement, Kelly Flaherty Clark, SeaWorld Orlando animal training curator, said that participating in shows is "an important component of (Tilikum's) physical, social and mental enrichment."


In SeaWorld Orlando "Believe" performances, killer whales like Tilikum flip several feet through the air, splashing water onto the crowd, and hoist trainers on their beaks.


The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited SeaWorld of Florida LLC last summer for three safety violations. One violation was classified as wilful for "exposing its employees to struck-by and drowning hazards when interacting with killer whales," according to an OSHA news release. The penalty was $75,000.


SeaWorld chose to appeal those citations to the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, said Michael Wald, U.S. Department of Labour regional director of the Office of Public Affairs.

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Killer whale "Tilikum" appears during its performance in its show "Believe" at Sea World on March 30, 2011 in Orlando, Florida.