Circus Animals Who Turned On Their Trainers

Posted by Sebrina Pilcher on Tuesday, May 7, 2024

It's dark times for SeaWorld. What was once a popular destination for families now has a reputation as a land of sadness and death. And it all kind of started when an orca attacked and killed trainer Dawn Brancheau.

According to ABC News, the whale, called Tilikum, grabbed Brancheau by the ponytail and pulled her into the pool, then began violently swinging her around. An autopsy later determined that she died from a combination of blunt force trauma to the head, neck, and torso, plus drowning. The attack happened during a performance.

It wasn't the first time Tilikum killed someone, either. In 1991 he was one of three whales responsible for the death of trainer Keltie Lee Byrne. Tilikum was described as "a difficult animal," and there were only a few trainers who would work with him.

After Brancheau's death, CNN aired a documentary titled "Blackfish," which retold the horrifying story and argued that captivity had made Tilikum dangerously unstable. Twenty-one million people tuned in, and suddenly the beloved family theme park was evil. Of course, SeaWorld also funds a major rescue and rehabilitation program for marine life, and it is a top contributor to oceanic conservation and research programs, so maybe a boycott isn't the best way to go, but nothing is black-and-white. Except orcas. Okay, maybe let's stop messing with orcas.

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