Tilikum Trainer Had to be Pulled From Jaws

Updated at 3:38 p.m.

Officials say trainers had to coax an aggressive whale into a smaller pool and use a platform to lift it out of the water before they could free a colleague from its jaws.

The Orange County Medical Examiner says 40-year-old trainer Dawn Brancheau probably died from multiple traumatic injuries and drowning after the killer whale Tilikum pulled her into a pool at SeaWorld Orlando on Wednesday.

The county sheriff's office says co-workers couldn't immediately help her because the whale was so aggressive after it grabbed her by her ponytail and pulled her in.

The office says an investigation is continuing but there are no signs of foul play and all evidence indicates it was a tragic accident.

SeaWorld Staff Saw Tilikum as Dangerous
12,000-Pound Whale Kills SeaWorld Trainer
What Caused a Killer Whale to Attack?

The new details became public as federal documents are providing more details about how the whale got to the U.S. Documents show SeaWorld asked federal marine officials for permission to temporarily house Tilikum in Orlando after killing a trainer in 1991 because the whale needed medical care he couldn't get in Canada.

That trainer died after she lost her balance and fell in the pool at a park near Victoria, British Columbia.

National Marine Fisheries Service official Nancy Foster said in a letter then that neither the Canadian park nor SeaWorld took precautionary steps necessary for Tilikum's health and welfare.

In yesterday's incident, the whale apparently grabbed Brancheau by her long ponytail, according to SeaWorld's head trainer Chuck Tompkins. Tompkins told ABC's "Good Morning America" that her ponytail swung out in front of the whale.

"That's when the trainer next to him (Tilikum) said that he grabbed the hair, pulled her under water. And of course, held her under water," Tompkins said.

Horrified visitors who had stuck around after a noontime show watched Tilikum charge through the pool with Brancheau in his jaws.

"We like to think we know 99.9 percent of the time what an animal is doing," he told The Associated Press on Thursday. "But this is one of those times we just don't know."

Tompkins told the Orlando Sentinel that he expects SeaWorld to keep the orca. If Tilikum were released into the wild, Tompkins doubted the whale would survive.

"I think it's unfair to do that to an animal," Tompkins told the newspaper.

Tompkins said the whale won't be isolated from other killer whales at the Orlando park.

Tompkins said Thursday that the whale plays an important role in the social group of eight whales who live at Shamu Stadium. He's the father of some whales and will continue to mate with other females.

SeaWorld says trainers will continue to interact with Tilikum but the procedures for doing so will change in the wake of trainer Dawn Brancheau's death.

The killer whale shows are on hold for now and Tompkins says they won't start again until trainers understand what happened to her.

At the same time, SeaWorld in San Diego is suspending its Shamu whale show for a second day. Spokesman David Koontz says SeaWorld is offering its trainers counseling and reviewing its procedures, including how trainers interact with animals. He says officials don't know when the show will resume.

Tompkins says the Orlando park will change safety protocols as needed but he doesn't expect drastic changes.

Tilikum had always been considered an especially dangerous animal by the staff at SeaWorld Orlando.

According to the Sentinel, trainers were forbidden with swimming with Tillikum, a 12,000-pound orca nicknamed "Tilly."

Brancheau was one of less than half of the park's 28 trainers who were allowed to work with the whale.

Brancheau was rubbing the whale from a platform when he grabbed her ponytail in his mouth and took her underwater.

Visitors who stayed after an afternoon show witnessed the incident.

Reports that Tilikum had been acting strangely leading up to Wednesday's tragedy were dismissed by Tompkins.

Tompkins said the whale had been very cooperative and at the time he dragged Brancheau into the water, she was rewarding him for how well he had performed that day.

"There wasn't anything to indicate to us that there was a problem," Tompkins told CBS' "The Early Show" Thursday.

He added: "We were very careful with how we worked with him."

• Quick Poll

Should the whale be put to death?
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 No

Tilikum had a marked history, however. The whale, along with two female killer whales drowned Keltie Byrne, a trainer, in 1991 at a British Columbia park and in 1999, Tilikum killed a man who had sneaked into the SeaWorld tank after hours to swim with whales.

Russ Rector, an animal-rights activist, tells the Sentinel that Tilikum did not belong at a theme park.

"Tilikum is a killer," Rector told the paper. "If this had been a dog that killed Keltie Byrne, it would have been put down."

[melena21]

seriously im so tired of people defending this animal..or shall i say monster. This whale is very dangerous. Its what his third time killing somebody? Yeah he is a KILLER whale but maybe they shouldnt even use killer whales for shows. I understand that Dawn risked her life for this animal because its what she loved to do but you guys have to stop blaming her for her death. She didnt do anything wrong! I find it funny too how people are blaming her for her pony tail being so long. Its not her fault! Everyone thats defending this beast needs to stop and think what if that was someone you loved? You wouldnt be defending this animal then i bet. Next time this whale hurts somebody else, im blaming everyone that stood up for him and wanted him to stay at sea world. I can see what you guys are saying that if you put this whale back into the ocean then it will die but seriously who's life is more important? Tilikum is a freakin animal! I would rather have an animal die then an innocent human being!

[bluebunnyicecream]

could not agree more. Whats this nonsense about them throwing food at the beast when it was ripping her arm off and her scalp off her head? They should have pulled out the rifle when he went after her, I bet he would have dropped her mighty quick.

[kcss4668]

Okay come on now lets be real here, for starters if this whale gets "freed" out into the wild, the chances of survival are slim to none. Now we all understand that this whale killed someone, someone who was willing to take the risk in working with these types of animals that at any time can easily turn on them. That is the risk a trainer takes when they decide to work with killer whales, just like a welder takes risk in working with a machine that can malfunction at anytime and cut off his arm, or the risk a pilot takes with flying an airplane that can crash. In this case, it is an animal. So yes if the whale is having a bad day or if they are upset, he won't go run and scream in a pillow, they will take out their aggression differently. Unfortunately, it had to be the life of someone to actually realize that but I know that without a doubt she would not want anything to happen to that whale.

[migsly]

Here's a petition to free Tilikum:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/free-tilikum.html

[Ningishzida]

Do your research first. The CANNOT free Tilikum. He is missing most of his teeth and would starve in the wild. Sea World is the best place for him now. There are many dangerous animals allowed to live in captivity. Trainers simply must remember to treat him like a dangerous animal and not as a 'friend' and these accidents won't happen.

[vielmann]

This whale has killed three people. It obviously is not people friendly and it either needs to be put down or it needs to be set loose into the ocean. Frankly, I will not give this theme park one bit of my money.

[bluebunnyicecream]

AGREED! When the whale gets injected with a nice dose of euthanasia serum, I will visit sea world. Until then I refuse to say "look kids its the serial killer whale!! Ain't he cute? Last spring he ripped off a girls arm and her scalp! Lets take a picture with him Johnny!!"

[AmerBestZoos]

Of course this is a tragedy! But this keeper, bless her heart, accepted the risks of working with these enormous animals and she did it out of her love for animals. So there is nothing to condemn Sea World or the orca for.

Allen Nyhuis, Coauthor: America's Best Zoos

[bluebunnyicecream]

Please get your HEAD OUT OF THE SAND!!!

[klmanjaro]

Man is the only creature that insists on capturing animals and training them to entertain himself for profit. They are kept in closed quarters out of their habitat and live in horrible conditions. These are wild animals that God intended to roam the earth and to swim the seas of the world. Imagine living in a closet for the rest of your existence. They have every right to kill; it inevitably creates insanity. They call them killer whales for a reason; they kill for an existence. You can't cage animals and expect them to love you.

[animallover1990]

Ok.It's sad that a trainer was killed but let's not spin this story. In 1991, the trainer fell in the water and was killed. In Florida, a stupid man deliberately jumped into the pool to swin with the whales after hours. His death should not be placed on Tilikum's head. Finally, this whale had done thousands of shows without any incident. Animal trainers knowingly put their lives at risk. So we laugh and look in awe when they survive but then we want the animal killed when something goes wrong?? Also, you can't release Tilikum back into the wild - he won't survie after over 20 years in captivity.

[bluebunnyicecream]

I say throw him in the ocean and let nature take its course. hey, you're the big advocate for letting nature take its course here when a whale rips an arm and scalp off a woman. So why not let nature take its course when we throw the beast out to sea!! Seems fair.

[Bharathymani]

About the Killer Whale. There is no valid point to keep this dangerous
animal as it is so far killed three persons. Showing kindness to animals is one thing, but at the same time this is not a good thing to remain
in Sea World. I suggest the best way is to leave it in sea. We cannot lose more lives.

Bharathymani.

[azzonie]

I am sure this has been pointed out, but this whale has killed 3 people now? Amazing they allow this to continue. If this was a do it would be put down just for bitting someone. If it was a human it would likely be put down also. In this case I think the people that decided to keep this whale active need to be prosecuted. Thw whale needs to be either let loose or killed and feed to the hungery. It is to bad that they have put this whales well being over peoples. Perhaps it is out of guilt for holding it prisoner all these years.

[azzonie]

I am sure this has been pointed out, but this whale has killed 3 people now? Amazing they allow this to continue. If this was a do it would be put down just for bitting someone. If it was a human it would likely be put down also. In this case I think the people that decided to keep this whale active need to be prosecuted. Thw whale needs to be either let loose or killed and feed to the hungery. It is to bad that they have put this whales well being over peoples. Perhaps it is out of guilt for holding it prisoner all these years.