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Sea World Trainer Killed:Tilikum Killer Attack, What Caused It ?
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by Sudha Krishna | February 25, 2010 at 10:15 am
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Sea World Trainer Killed by Tilikum and Orca Killer Whale: Attack Caused by Hormones?
With the recent tragic death of Dawn Brancheau, the Sea World Trainer who was killed by Tilikum, an Orca Killer Whale at Orlandos Shamu Sea World people are naturally asking why? What happened? What caused Tilikum, the Orca to attack his trainer?
One theory is high Testosterone levels and mating may have triggered the unusual behavior in the whale which led to such tragic consequences Discovery News is reporting.
Tilikum, the male killer whale that fatally injured trainer Dawn Brancheau in front of a stunned audience at SeaWorld in Orlando on Wednesday, was a breeding "stud" often housed in isolation.
Experts believe he did not kill for food, but may have been acting out due to stress and raging hormones.
The news surround the Tilikum's attack becomes more troubling. Apparently, Tilikum started breeding at an exceptionally young age for an Orca. Discovery News sites studies on hormone leves of Orcas. If Tilikum did indeed have Testosterone levels and since Tilikum was a breeding stud then it could have implications for the off spring.
A parent with unusually high testosterone, or a predisposition to hormone swings, could pass that on to offspring, so whales like Tilikum that are particularly good breeders could be producing whales with a tendency for behavioral problems.
Of course hormones would not be the only factor to explain the attack, likely environmental issues like Tilikum being isolated could have contributed to what happened at Sea World in Orlando.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (53)
at 11:24 on February 25th, 2010
Seriously my heart goes out to the family of the lost trainer. But come on..... Like Chris Rock said about Siegfried & Roy getting attacked; that tiger didn't go crazy, that tiger went tiger. It's called a KILLER WHALE for a reason. Stop trying to make them do stupid things to entertain people and let them stay in the wild. It's not healthy for anyone. We don't need to see Tilikum or anyone else make waves for idiots dumb enough to buy tickets to these places. Get the National Geographic channel and be happy that because you stayed home instead of supporting these places that one more animal could stay happily in the wild.
at 21:10 on February 25th, 2010
Just a little heads up, Killer whales are only nick named that because nothing prays on a killer whale aka its the top perditor of the sea. Not because it violently kills anything that crosses it path.
at 17:15 on February 26th, 2010
Why is everyone mad at the whale? They need to leave whales in their own habitiat!! They weren't meant to be confined to "entertain" the public! Maybe if they keep "acting out", they will put them back in their natural home!!
at 11:46 on March 5th, 2010
I agree 100% with Ms. Hospitality... It is definitely NOT Talikum's fault. This shit could of happened at anytime to someone else. We need to release these creatures back to the wild.
at 07:34 on March 7th, 2010
Release them? If you really cared about these Orcas you would actually not want that! You realize releasing them would be a slow, crule and painful death for them! Also very lonely too, also only 4 out of many of sea worlds Orcas are actually wild. You stick the captive bred ones in the wild their systems would go into shock and kill them within weeks, as for the ones taken from the wild, its unlikely they even remember it. Also did you not learn ANYTHING! from Keikos release you realize 20-30 people on that project quit once he neared his final outcome because they knew it would kill him. They knew he'd never make it and they knew it was only a 2% chance that he would ever find his pod, and that it was only a 1% chance that if he did that they would even let him back into their social standing after being gone for over 20 years. Keiko died a slow and painful and very lonely death. If you loved these Orcas like you claim you do, you wouldn't wish for them to be released.
at 13:04 on March 2nd, 2010
I agree 100%!!! Anyone working in an environment with wild animals has to know what the possible consequences and dangers are. While I do feel bad for the family of the trainer and my heart goes out to them, those risks go with the territory. It's not the whale's fault. I wouldn't want to be trapped in a cage either and told to perform ridiculous tricks for a few rounds of applause and a tiny little fish.
at 13:09 on March 2nd, 2010
i totatally agree. that the first thing i said to my husband after i heard that story. its called a killer whale for a reason. the trainer are at fault for thinking they could play with them , they are not pets!
at 08:00 on March 7th, 2010
Just so you know it's actually called an ORCA! and its nick named a Killer whale, only because nothing in the sea prays on it, not because some people think it violently kills anything in its path.
at 10:24 on March 15th, 2010
Actually they got the name "Killer Whale" because they are killing whales in their part of their world. It must be horrifying for an animal with such great potential to be locked in a tank to play a clown, especially since Tilikum was born wild (reffering to informations online). It's very sad, that there are already 3 ppl deaths in combination with him. But setting him free would be his assured death (Keiko died after 5 years on pneumonia)!! I guess on the long run we should simply prevent by canceling such shows, even if it hurts the ppl running it by loosing $$!! It's a very thin line where animal love starts and when it's unbearable for our beloved animals!! And when it's based on making $$ we humans are stepping most times over this line. The changes must me overall and generel!!
at 11:48 on April 11th, 2010
Ok first of all.. they are right .. it got it name because it doesnt have any predators.. just ask a trainer. They would know!! Second, the trainers and the whale chose to cooperate with each other. The whale chooses to cooperate! if they didnt want to look like a clow(which they dont) they wouldn't obey their orders. Being a trainer does not just mean that you get to play with the animals.. its also means knowing that there can be consequences.. it's peoples choice weather they want to be a trainer or not.. And third, if you release an captive born animal into the wild, it'll just keep coming back and eventually die. It's not going to just jump into a pod and learn to hunt on it's own when it's a full adult. These animals create a bond with these people. How would you like it if someone said to you guys that you need to get rid of your dog and release it into the wild because your making it look rediculous by doing these treats for tiny dog bones!? You love your dogs and they love their whales. Plus, these whales dont always get fed tiny fish... iv'e seen a couple times where the trainers gave them a HUGE fish!
at 15:02 on March 24th, 2010
I just experienced my first time at SeaWorld, the other day. I watched the Shamu show and it was awesome. It is amazing how the animals react to the trainers... i believe the trainers go through extensive training and understand the possibilities of an attact. Their desire to please the crowd and work with the animals is greatly appreciated and everyone can not do it. I applaud the trainers and the recently passed Ms. Brancheau, because this is not an ordinary job. It is a job that you have to the heart to do. Can you do it?
at 18:35 on February 25th, 2010
Im gonna have to agree how would you fell if someone told u what to do entering people like clown its mean and they should stop that KILLER WHALE should be its on whale let him go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
at 20:40 on February 26th, 2010
They can't let him go. He'd die. He's spent the last 25 years in captivity and would not have the skills needed to survive in the wild.
at 19:07 on February 25th, 2010
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at 21:17 on February 25th, 2010
Well my theory is more plasuable then ANY i have seen. My theory - Is that she slipped and most likely hit her head when she entered the tank. Tilikum being an Orca has no hands, so the way you would be able to get her to the surface the quickest would be to grab her with his mouth and get her up there. Because just holding her up there it would not be able to save her life, I believe he thrashed about with her in his mouth to show its was no playing beahviour that he wasn't just messing about. The trashing would draw attention to him letting the other trainers know she needed medical attention, as obviously Tilikum cannot give it to her. My theory is plasuable for a main reason that even eye witnesses have mentioned nothing about any vocals coming out of her, I'm sorry but if you are being attacked and are awake, even being thrashed about in water your screams will have been heard by someone one, leading me to come to my theory.
at 06:57 on February 27th, 2010
You got to be fxxking kidding right ? That is the most stupid theory I've ever heard
at 05:49 on February 28th, 2010
I second that, come on, Dawn got to close to the Killer Whale and he grabbed her. Now I am not sure if he was playing with her or wanted to kill her? I doubt that this Killer Whale knows how to interact with humans. It is sad that we will not get Dawn's side of the story, yet I am sure she would want the shows and people to continue working with Killer Whales.
at 07:37 on March 7th, 2010
Aha really? You think that stupided? Even though now Sea World and all the trainers have come to the same theory? That the medical report stated she had head trauma. I think that persons theory is more plasuable then anything. Specially when the people that work with these orcas every day have reached the sameone.
at 13:35 on March 2nd, 2010
You're an idiot
at 14:52 on March 4th, 2010
WOW!! Have you ever watched the Discovery channel? m pretty sure if he was trying to help her, he wouldnt have dragged her to the bottom.....what planet are you on again?
at 07:39 on March 7th, 2010
What planet are you on? He never dragged her to the bottom of the tank he infact brought her to the surface of the water.
at 10:59 on February 26th, 2010
I do agree with Annie. In 1999, the half-naked body of a man was found draped over the whale at Orlando SeaWorld after normal park hours. The man, it turned out, had snuck in to the park to swim with the whales, that could of been self defence. Personally if somebody snuck into where i lived I would probably defend my territory too. In 2006 Dawn told the Orlando Sentinel her job was dangerous: “You can’t put yourself in the water unless you trust them and they trust you.”
at 15:02 on March 4th, 2010
Anyssa you honestly think a 6 ton whale was protecting his tank? Come on get real. They had to get the trainer out of his mouth, he wouldn't release her. So Im thinking he probably would have done the same thing with that man if the park was open. He had all night to thrash and toss that poor man around and by the time anyone came he probably just happened to be on the whales back. I think that whale went killer whale on that man, the trainer and another trainer as well, because for some reason although these mammals have been in captivity so long they don'tloose their instincts. We can just wait till another trainer gets daring enough to get around this "killer whale" andthen we will be able to add another humna death to poor Tilly's rap sheet.Funny how at the other water park they said Tilly along with 2 other whales tossed a trainer back and forth... think they were trying to save her? I think not
at 07:38 on March 5th, 2010
Ok i have to agree that Tilly was protecting his tank when that STRANGER broke into his home.The man was at fault not Tilly!That incident shouldnt be used against him cause any animal, human or otherwise will attack if a stranger come into their home.As far as dawn goes ,i dont have a clue as to why he would attack her but it is very sad and i do feel bad for her family,friends and the animals she worked with.She was very talented and im sure she will be missed very much. Now as far as freeing Tilly and the other orcas they WILL NOT survive they have lived in captivity for to long to be able to survive.And then would all you guys who wants them free fell anything becaused they died i doubt it.And the only people who can even have a voice in the free the animals is anyone who DOSE NOT have ANY pets.There is no difference in Sea World owning a orca and a resident owning a beta,Its an animal no matter how big or small .Its hypicritical for anyone to have a pet and put Sea World down for what they do for the sea animals.There was a Rot Wiler that just killed his owners little girl in his back yard i dont hear anyone screaming FREE ALL THE KNINES THEY ARE DANGEROUS!13000 lbOrca or 125lbDog it makes no difference ALL animals can snap. As far as you people talking bout" KILLER WHALE THEY ARE NAMED THAT FOR A REASON"Get your facts and try not to look so stupid .Orcas are DOLPHINS they dont belong to the whale family.They are beautiful and extremely smart creatures .They also have emotions close to humans they are family orinated and love just like you and me they DONT KILL TO BE DOING IT.They are not GREAT WHITES.So do your homework before you speak it mite help your argument if you have a few facts.
at 11:01 on February 26th, 2010
They also captured him at 2 years of age...
at 18:23 on February 26th, 2010
Its her fault, the whale isn't even suppose to be used for tricks, it's a mating whale and they can't put it in the wild because its been in captivity it's whole life. It would die anyways.
at 20:12 on February 26th, 2010
I think this was inevitable. Some one is going go be killed at some point working with wild animals or domesticated. Dogs attack there owners on occasion. I also feel if there is footage of the attack they should release it. We are curious animals, and I always have to be near the action in some way. I guess that's why I work in the ER.
at 09:16 on February 27th, 2010
you cant really blame the whale. Its a wild animal no matter how long they have had it. She should have been more careful. I do feel for her family but the whale can not be blamed entirely.
at 21:46 on February 27th, 2010
First off, everyone get over yourself. Stop coming up with "theories" because this is life! No matter how much you guys say "whales aren't supposed to be in tanks" its not going to change the fact that they are. You can't do anything about that. Things happen all the time! And no one can stop it.
at 13:37 on March 2nd, 2010
You're an idiot