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U.S. NEWS Saturday 7 January 2017

SeaWorld: Tilikum, orca

that killed trainer, has died

MIKE SCHNEIDER “Tilikum has been sick, very male killer whales in the
JENNIFER KAY sick, for so long, and after wild typically live about 30
Associated Press everything he’s had to en- years and females typically
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Ti- dure, this is to me like he’s live about 50 years. Insti-
likum the orca has died free,” said Hargrove, who tutions displaying marine
after more than two de- left SeaWorld in 2012 and mammals and their crit-
cades at SeaWorld Or- was featured in the docu- ics disagree over whether
lando, where he gained mentary “Blackfish.” orcas’ life expectancy in
notoriety for killing a trainer “He lived a tortured exis- captivity differs from their
in 2010 and was later pro- tence in captivity. I think life span in the wild. In a March 7, 2011 photo, Kelly Flaherty Clark, right, director of
filed in a documentary that all the whales do, but if Tilikum had been Sea- animal training at SeaWorld Orlando, works with killer whale
helped sway popular opin- you had to pinpoint one of World’s most prolific male Tilikum during a training session at the theme park’s Shamu Sta-
ion against keeping killer them, hands down I would orca, siring 14 calves since dium in Orlando, Fla. Associated Press
whales in captivity. say Tilikum.” his arrival at the park about
He will not be replaced. He Animal rights advocates 25 years ago. He was no- ship with the theme park ing,” Manby said.
was the first of SeaWorld’s who want orcas and other ticeable for his size at more company. Tilikum’s death was an-
orcas to die since the com- marine mammals at Sea- than 22 feet and 11,800 Gabriela Cowperthaite, other blow for SeaWorld
pany announced the end World parks released into pounds. who directed “Blackfish,” employees already reeling
of its orca breeding pro- sea pens or coastal sanc- Tilikum was moved to Sea- said in an email that it’s time from job cuts announced
gram in March 2016. tuaries said Tilikum was World Orlando in 1992, and to focus on other whales in last month across Sea-
In a statement announc- snared in a business model Sealand later closed. captivity. “He lived a hor- World Entertainment Inc.’s
ing Tilikum’s death early that led only to tragedy. SeaWorld’s decision to rible life, he caused un- 12-park system, Stafford
Friday, SeaWorld officials Lisa Lange, senior vice pres- end the breeding program speakable pain, so at least said. He worried the loss
said he had serious health ident for the group People and phase out the theme his chapter is over,” she of employees trained to
issues including a persistent for the Ethical Treatment of parks’ traditional orca per- said. care for marine mammals
and complicated bacterial Animals, urged SeaWorld formances came three In March, SeaWorld’s may inadvertently weaken
lung infection. Tilikum was to release its remaining or- years after the release of CEO acknowledged that other conservation efforts,
estimated to be 36 years cas and marine mammals the documentary, “Black- the public’s attitude had such as a captive breeding
old. A necropsy will deter- to “spend the rest of their fish,” which chronicled Tili- changed about keeping program proposed for en-
mine the cause of death. lives in as natural a setting kum’s life and Brancheau’s killer whales captive. dangered porpoises called
The 2010 death of SeaWorld as possible.” death. “We needed to move vaquitas in the waters off
trainer Dawn Brancheau SeaWorld supporters found Her death was not the where society was mov- Mexico.q
during a performance with something worthwhile in Tili- only one linked to Tilikum
Tilikum after a “Dine with kum’s time at the park. at SeaWorld. In 1999, a na-
Shamu” show shocked the “His story is a complicated ked man who had eluded
public and changed the one, but I also think he rep- security and sneaked into
future of orcas at SeaWorld resented his species well,” SeaWorld at night was
parks. said Grey Stafford, presi- found dead the next morn-
Brancheau was interact- dent of the International ing draped over Tilikum in a
ing with Tilikum before a Marine Trainers’ Associa- breeding tank in the back
live audience at SeaWorld tion. He’s also a former Sea- of Shamu Stadium.
Orlando when he pulled World employee, though “Blackfish” argued that
her from a platform by her he never worked with Tili- killer whales in captivity
arm and held her under- kum. “In retrospect, there become more aggressive
water. An autopsy report are a lot positives to say.” toward humans and each
said Brancheau drowned SeaWorld President and other. Because of it, several
but also suffered severe CEO Joel Manby said, “Tili- entertainers pulled out of
trauma, including multiple kum had, and will continue planned performances at
fractures. to have, a special place in SeaWorld parks and animal
Former SeaWorld orca the hearts of the SeaWorld rights activists increased
trainer John Hargrove said family, as well as the mil- their demonstrations out-
Tilikum’s death offered lions of people all over the side the parks.
some closure in the violent world that he inspired.” SeaWorld attendance
death of his friend and col- According to National dipped, company profits
league. But he said Tilikum Oceanic and Atmospher- fell and Southwest Airlines
also finally found relief. ic Administration figures , ended its 25-year relation-