SeaWorld Trainer Killed by Whale

[jme]

A whale attacked and killed a trainer
at SeaWorld Orlando Wednesday afternoon, the sheriff's office said.
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."
The trainer that was killed was a senior trainer at the theme park. She had been at the park since the mid-90s.

...

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.
Biniak said the attack was violent enough for her shoe to fly off.


Biniak said the whale, named Tilikum, or Telly for short, does not typically have a trainer in its tank because it is too large.
Tilikum is a nearly 30-year-old, 12,300-pound bull Orca.

Full Story At:
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/22659901/detail.html

Awful news :(

[HT_NSU]

Wow....that's horrible.

[EvilJimmy]

That really is awful My prayers to that trainers family

[Allie086]

aw so very sad !

[Qsk50]

How terribly sad =(
I would never be brave enough for a job like that. I always admire
people that train large animals.
My prayers for the family.

[IloveDisneyVinylmation]

Yes it was very sad. Most animal trainers who work with large wild animals know at some time during their career something like this could possibly happen. I am sorry but whales belong in the ocean not in an amusement park. This whale had in the past killed two people. (one was when a guy after the park was closed jumped in to swim with the whale and was killed). I am not saying it is the whale fault, but whales are very social animals along with being very intelligent. My prayers are with her family along with the other trainers at Sea World.

[BeachGurl]

Its pissing me off how national media is making it seem like this happened in the middle of one of the big shows in Shamu Stadium. The local news has been way more accurate according to the Orange County Sheriffs department. Apparently this happened as "Dine with Shamu" was wrapping up so only a few guests actually saw what happened. Sounds like this was just a really bad accident because the tank that Telly was in they said was smaller than normal because another one was under construction. Also, they don't have trainers in that tank with him due to his history. I don't think the trainer was doing anything wrong either.

Honestly, they should have released that whale into the wild a looooong time ago... especially since he's killed people before. I mean, seriously? Did they think something like this would never happen again? People are way too confident with those animals, but at the end of the day it is just a KILLER whale. I think its great when they find whales and other animals beaten up and try to nurse them back to health... but let them go when they're better. Don't keep them locked up teaching them how to do flips for the rest of their lives.

[IloveDisneyVinylmation]

Its pissing me off how national media is making it seem like this happened in the middle of one of the big shows in Shamu Stadium. The local news has been way more accurate according to the Orange County Sheriffs department. Apparently this happened as "Dine with Shamu" was wrapping up so only a few guests actually saw what happened. Sounds like this was just a really bad accident because the tank that Telly was in they said was smaller than normal because another one was under construction. Also, they don't have trainers in that tank with him due to his history. I don't think the trainer was doing anything wrong either.

Honestly, they should have released that whale into the wild a looooong time ago... especially since he's killed people before. I mean, seriously? Did they think something like this would never happen again? People are way too confident with those animals, but at the end of the day it is just a KILLER whale. I think its great when they find whales and other animals beaten up and try to nurse them back to health... but let them go when they're better. Don't keep them locked up teaching them how to do flips for the rest of their lives.

I agree with most of what you said. The problem is that you cannot release captive whales back into the wild because they no longer have enough of basic instincts to survive. There has been some success of releasing capitive animals back in to the wild such as tigers, but the successes have been few. I understand this whale that killed the trainer is used only for splashing people during the show as well as their breeding program. He has sired ten calfs which makes him worth millions of dollars and we know how much money talks. One expert said that keep a whale that size in that size enclosure is like you or me spending our life in a bath tub, yet people are shocked when this type of thing happens. I am thankfully surprised it doesn't happen more.

[HitchHikingGhostFangirl]

Its pissing me off how national media is making it seem like this happened in the middle of one of the big shows in Shamu Stadium. The local news has been way more accurate according to the Orange County Sheriffs department. Apparently this happened as "Dine with Shamu" was wrapping up so only a few guests actually saw what happened. Sounds like this was just a really bad accident because the tank that Telly was in they said was smaller than normal because another one was under construction. Also, they don't have trainers in that tank with him due to his history. I don't think the trainer was doing anything wrong either.

Honestly, they should have released that whale into the wild a looooong time ago... especially since he's killed people before. I mean, seriously? Did they think something like this would never happen again? People are way too confident with those animals, but at the end of the day it is just a KILLER whale. I think its great when they find whales and other animals beaten up and try to nurse them back to health... but let them go when they're better. Don't keep them locked up teaching them how to do flips for the rest of their lives.

It is horrible but yea I agree. This whale has had a violent past, they should have known better. Still dont know if I believe it was an accident or not.

But, even though the Orlando news stations are reporting more of what really happened, they're also advertising to find someone who has a video of what happened. That is just tactless and morbid. Doesnt need to be broadcast all over the news.

[BeachGurl]

I agree with most of what you said. The problem is that you cannot release captive whales back into the wild because they no longer have enough of basic instincts to survive. There has been some success of releasing capitive animals back in to the wild such as tigers, but the successes have been few.

I thought of that also, but I guess the way I see it he'll either adapt to being in the wild or he dies and gets eaten by tons of other little animals... circle of life.

[IloveDisneyVinylmation]

I thought of that also, but I guess the way I see it he'll either adapt to being in the wild or he dies and gets eaten by tons of other little animals... circle of life.

This is the dilemma zoos or parks such as Sea World runs into. Because more and more animals are becoming endangered zoo amd parks sometimes use the animal to educate the public about the plight of the animal . For example If a person is able to see a tiger close up it might impact that person to help save the species. Sea World is certainly at fault here. I believe all large whale should be in the wild unless injured or sick. If they were to release the whale that killed the trainer at Sea World it would almost be certain that it would stave to death because of no naturally hunting skills. animals in zoo or wild parks get room service sometimes twice a day. It would be more humane to put the whale down then to release it into the wild. I don't think the whale should be punished, he was just acting like a whale. It is Sea World's responsibilty to make sure this does not happen again

[cbisson]

they closed down san diego's sea world too, dont know why though.

[IloveDisneyVinylmation]

they closed down san diego's sea world too, dont know why though.

Perhaps it is wait until the investigation at Sea World in Florida is conducted. Hopefully new procedures will come from this so that this type of tragic accident does not happen at any place that houses Killer Whales. I saw on CNN tonight that the trainer who was killed was one of the seniortrainers at Sea World. She loved her job and I believe she would want the whale to continue to live there. I just wished they would not have their animals perfrom tricks.

[HitchHikingGhostFangirl]

Perhaps it is wait until the investigation at Sea World in Florida is conducted. Hopefully new procedures will come from this so that this type of tragic accident does not happen at any place that houses Killer Whales. I saw on CNN tonight that the trainer who was killed was one of the seniortrainers at Sea World. She loved her job and I believe she would want the whale to continue to live there. I just wished they would not have their animals perfrom tricks.

It would be great if they didnt have the animals perform tricks..but then Sea World would only have 4 attractions. Majority of their park is shows

[cbisson]

if they dont have these shows anymore these parks will die off quickly.

[HitchHikingGhostFangirl]

if they dont have these shows anymore these parks will die off quickly.

I agree (even though Manta is an awesome freakin' ride) but at the same time not, since yes, they're known for the killer whale shows. They still have other sea animal shows. :shrugs: It'll be interesting to see what happens because of this.

[Qsk50]

According to Sea World shows will resume without trainers in the water, for now.

[tmoney333]

THought and prayers to the trainers family.

[IloveDisneyVinylmation]

Accoding to Sea World shows will resume without trainers in the water, for now.

when it happens again then people should not be surprised. It will be a question of when not if. I really hope it doesn't but those thing do when you are dealing with wild animals. Ido agree the park's attendence would suffer with out the show.

[cbisson]

i dont think the park would suffer i think it would tank and sea world wouldnt be around anymore

[BeachGurl]

i dont think the park would suffer i think it would tank and sea world wouldnt be around anymore

I agree. People come to see other people ride on killer whales' backs and jump off their noses. If they got rid of all the animals all there would be are the 4 rides. They'd have to spend a ton of money to put more attractions in the park.

[cbisson]

even their merchandise and food are themed after Orcas