Dawn Brancheau, SeaWorld Trainer Killed By a Whale

There have been several attacks on humans by killer whales in captivity and luckily the majority of them survived, but one killer whale in particular named Tilikum was responsible for three of the four attacks that did result in deaths. He was the largest killer whale ever in captivity at 22.5 FT long and 12,000 pounds. Dawn Brancheau was an animal trainer at SeaWorld. Following a show she performed with Tilikum on February 4th, 2010, he dragged her into the water by her ponytail. He attacked her aggressively scalping her and even biting off her entire arm, which he then swallowed. Unfortunately, Brancheau died in the attack.

[bossphone]

Not from her ponytaile...that was what seaworld said in order to protect themselves by putting the fault on the trainer, he pulled her Arm, the poor orca was frustrated from the captivity, tilikum was the largest, & prisoned in a bathtub....he became crazy after all the shit he went through, can u imagine being locked in a room for ur whole life? Having some food only when they wanted u to perform? These killer whales are the most intelligent creatures & known to be in packs..they suffer a lot from this SeaShit

[aviabutler]

*”Everybody is a killer if you push them far enough.”*

[dblum]

You can’t just treat an apex predator like it is a show animal. There are consequences.

[melvinjpavionics]

Shouldn’t have been captivity in the first place

[reneethomas]

They shouldn't be in captivity. They're in enclosures that are way too small.

[liveyourbestlife-bb]

A person who loves wild animals don't train them to be clowns an entretain people. They respect them and want to see them happy in their natural habitat

[casims]

A huge fish in a tiny tank. I’d be pissed too.

[jenniferjohnston]

Humans are the cruelest creatures of all.

[demetria]

Im sure he was sick of not being free, he just had enough & snapped. It's sad, this could have been been avoided.

[coldcountess]

That's why they should all be free & Not held in such tiny enclosures !!

[SallyMars]

There shouldn’t even be a thing as “killer whales in captivity” let’s just start there.

[shout]

He was taken from his mother, when he was still a baby. He cried in distress and the mother cried hysterically for him . When she didn't calm down, the men killed her with harpons in front of Tilicum. After that he lived in a small prison in distress. A man, who was part of the abduction said that it was the most traumatic thing he ever experienced and this should never be done to another Orca. 😢😭

[lizzystar]

Seawold should be looking into a sea sanctuary for their orcas and even their dolphins. The size of the tanks are 100% not big enough for these creatures. There is a “ride” that takes u up slowly to the top ( it’s a big Pilar looking thing that is at least 10 stories high) for u to get to fully see the tanks and how small there are. After seeing the tanks from that perspective it really makes you sick to your stomach and your heart aches.
If they were smart they would know how much support of people they would have doing this. There public opinion would improve greatly. I know these animals cannot be set free completely because if I’m not mistaken at this point they have all pretty much been born in captivity releasing them in the wild would be a death sentence which is why I think at least shooting for a sea sanctuary would be the best bet for these animals to have some semblance of quality of life

[Julie-honf]

These beautiful creatures should be left in the ocean period

[AKA__Daisy]

It was by her arm not her ponytail. Many SeaWorld officials convinced the media it was a ponytail to throw the blame away from Tilikum and onto Dawn

[jennyatherton]

Well it shouldn't of been in that tiny sink it was kept in, these animals swim 100's miles a day in the sea😭🙏♥️

[annabenedetti]

Killer whales shouldn’t be in captivity in the first place. This killer whale was probably just lashing out.

[wesssavorn]

I'm sorry for her and the other two people who were attacked. But think about it this is a social creature captured left in a tank to swim in circles and forced to perform for food with bright lights loud speakers . And no others from its own pod to communicate with . He'll yeah its going to fight back . Honestly I don't feel sorry for those in power thus the marine park only hope that they paid big bucks to her family sadly it won't bring back their daughter but wish it would bring the message home that these beautiful creatures deserve so much better than you can offer in a tank with stale dead fish for food .

[Jazzywazz]

He did not swallow her arm, He also did not grab her ponytail. That was a big lie. It was her arm.

[missydavis]

Correction...Tilikum killed her, yes...but je was NOT the one responsible. .