Killer Whale Kills Trainer

mmmtodd

mmmtodd

All-Conference
ABC News

A female trainer was killed today by a 12,000 pound killer whale at SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium in Orlando, Fla., according to police and local media.
Eyewitnesses told ABC News affiliate WFTV the trainer was pulled into the tank at Shamu Stadium sometime after 2 p.m.

The whale responsible for the attack is a bull, or male, named Tilikum. He has lived at the park since 1992, and is one of eight killer whales there.

"Currently deputies with the full cooperation of SeaWorld have secured the scene and homicide detectives have been requested to respond and conduct a death investigation follow-up, along with our forensics unit," said Capt. Angelo Nieves of the Orange County Sheriff's Office in a statement.
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the first thing I thought about was Suh and Bo's pics taken with Shamu...yikes!

 
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the quotes further down from Sea World reps and the Police are ridiculous--obviously its a PR nightmare but these just seem wrong after reading eyewitness reports--

"A female trainer back in the whale holding area slipped into tank and was fatally injured," the police spokesman said.
The sheriff's added there was no evidence of "foul play."

SeaWorld and the Orange County Sheriff's Office would not immediately identity the trainer, but Dan Brown, vice president and general manager of SeaWorld Orlando, called the woman one of the park's "most experienced trainers."

He also characterized the death as a "drowning."

Neither the police or SeaWorld officials would take questions.
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If that was my family member, someone saying they simply drowned or characterizing it as such would piss me off. I understand its a fine line to walk about what you release, but still...

 
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mmmtodd said:
the quotes further down from Sea World reps and the Police are ridiculous--obviously its a PR nightmare but these just seem wrong after reading eyewitness reports--

"A female trainer back in the whale holding area slipped into tank and was fatally injured," the police spokesman said.
The sheriff's added there was no evidence of "foul play."

SeaWorld and the Orange County Sheriff's Office would not immediately identity the trainer, but Dan Brown, vice president and general manager of SeaWorld Orlando, called the woman one of the park's "most experienced trainers."

He also characterized the death as a "drowning."

Neither the police or SeaWorld officials would take questions.
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If that was my family member, someone saying they simply drowned or characterizing it as such would piss me off. I understand its a fine line to walk about what you release, but still...
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Very true I'm sure that they are more apologetic when speaking to the family but th fact that they called it a drowning almost make me think they are already preparing for a court battle. At least take one day to let the family grieve.

 
If I am not mistaken...this isn't the first incident with this same killer whale. The whale bites the person and keeps him/her underwater..so I guess 'drowning' is the technical term for this. Though I agree that the initial statement seems a bit callous.

Why is it that a dog can bite someone and be put down, but a performing whale can kill someone, on more than one occasion, and be kept in close proximity to people is beyond me. $$$$ errr......

Found the link. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/02/24/2010-02-24_killer_whale_kills_trainer_at_orlandos_sea_world.html

""The 30-year-old, 5-ton marine mammal - the largest killer whale in captivity - has killed before: He drowned a biology student in 1991 and a naked, dead gatecrasher was found draped on his back in 1999.

The previous incidents were not attacks but misguided attempts by the otherwise docile whale to play, experts said.

But Tilikum, nicknamed Telly, is getting old and he may be getting cranky."" :WTH

 
although I feel sad for the trainer and her family....

they're friggin' called KILLER WHALES!!! Not Happy-fun-time-cuddly Whales!!!

These are large creatures who eat other animals...many times other whales! I know we like to think we as humans can train the "dumb" animal to do tricks for our amusement, but in the end they are just as dangerous as any other wild animal.

 
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bennychico11 said:
although I feel sad for the trainer and her family....

they're friggin' called KILLER WHALES!!! Not Happy-fun-time-cuddly Whales!!!

These are large creatures who eat other animals...many times other whales! I know we like to think we as humans can train the "dumb" animal to do tricks for our amusement, but in the end they are just as dangerous as any other wild animal.
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:yeah and we have a winner.

Seriously though a sad story and thoughts go out to the families.

 
bennychico11 said:
although I feel sad for the trainer and her family....

they're friggin' called KILLER WHALES!!! Not Happy-fun-time-cuddly Whales!!!

These are large creatures who eat other animals...many times other whales! I know we like to think we as humans can train the "dumb" animal to do tricks for our amusement, but in the end they are just as dangerous as any other wild animal.
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Benny, ya beat me to it..

Granted I feel bad for her and her family, but with that being said...

This is a wild f'n animal. Just because it's kept in a pool and fed by people doesn't make it tame. These things have instincts.

Like the dumba$$ who went to "live" with the bears in Yellowstone, and holy crap, was killed by a bear.

 
bennychico11 said:
although I feel sad for the trainer and her family....

they're friggin' called KILLER WHALES!!! Not Happy-fun-time-cuddly Whales!!!

These are large creatures who eat other animals...many times other whales! I know we like to think we as humans can train the "dumb" animal to do tricks for our amusement, but in the end they are just as dangerous as any other wild animal.
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I saw a cool video of a group of killer whales teaming up to capsize a small ice float on which a seal was lounging.
 
Let's see:

Take a "social animal" and confine it in a bathtub for a decade or so (Solitary confinement) and teach it dumb tricks.

Should work. :facepalm:

 
GM_Tood said:
If I am not mistaken...this isn't the first incident with this same killer whale. The whale bites the person and keeps him/her underwater..so I guess 'drowning' is the technical term for this. Though I agree that the initial statement seems a bit callous.

Why is it that a dog can bite someone and be put down, but a performing whale can kill someone, on more than one occasion, and be kept in close proximity to people is beyond me. $$$$ errr......

Found the link. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/02/24/2010-02-24_killer_whale_kills_trainer_at_orlandos_sea_world.html

""The 30-year-old, 5-ton marine mammal - the largest killer whale in captivity - has killed before: He drowned a biology student in 1991 and a naked, dead gatecrasher was found draped on his back in 1999.

The previous incidents were not attacks but misguided attempts by the otherwise docile whale to play, experts said.

But Tilikum, nicknamed Telly, is getting old and he may be getting cranky."" :WTH
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Killer whales are endangered species so thats one reason. I'm not sure if it would be illegal to do it but PEDA would be all over it.

 
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