Trainer Has "No Fear" of Killer Whales

In the wake of the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau, killed by a whale named Tilikum at SeaWorld Wednesday, Robert Rose, curator at the Miami Seaquarium, said on "The Early Show" Friday he has no fear of the killer whales in his care. He said his relationship with the whales at the Seaquarium has been built over years through countless hours of interaction and play.

"They're part of our family. We care very deeply about these animals," he said. "We really love and enjoy what we do as trainers."

WKMG: Watch Trainer with Tilikum Before Attack

Rose said he knew Brancheau and his wife worked with her. He said this is a difficult time for people in the wildlife industry. He said his heart goes out to her friends and family.

To see the interview with Rose, click on the video below:


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[Kajsa77]

..."built trust over years".....if they call food deprivation that so be it. She do tricks cause she is hungry! Lolita has the smallest tank in the US and it is illegal. She is living with no other orcas and was caught in the wild and seperated from her family. Her pod still swims outside Washington coast. Retiere Lolita now - that would show that the Miami Seaquarium really did care......

[cj1167]

This tragedy began the day Tillikum was captured and it isn't over yet. Those looking for happy ending will continue to be disappointed. You can't reason with a wild animal and you can't teach it how live in the environment you kidnapped it from so long ago. Lets all wake up from this nightmare and agree the animal deserves humane treatment, does not know how to survive in the wild and may never learn. Next, lets agree that attempting to train and interact with such a large creature like a house pet is moronic and dangerous. Lets make Tillicum the poster killer whale for no more stupid human tricks with innocent animals.

[nickytalks]

If a Killer Whale is kept in captivity to do a few tricks for the benefit of a fee paying audience (an absolute unnatural state for these beautiful and magnificent creatures) then it really should be of no surprise when it starts behaving in LIKE THE WILD ANIMAL THAT IT IS!!! Robert Rose says he has no fear of these animals - how ridiculous - he absolutely should do! They are WILD animals. Surely a natural fear of these animals will produce a kind of vigilance? You CANNOT predict a wild animals behaviour, and how arrogant to think that we as humans can!
Incidentally, the only recorded attacks on humans are when these wonderful creatures are IN CAPTIVITY. Does that give you a hint here?
And what's with the "Serial" Killer Whale tag? How dare you compare these incredible animals with a human that kills for psychological gratification?
Furthermore how absolutely terrible that you press people to have this creature destroyed. This creature, trapped in a glorified pool for the greater part of its life, and then when it eventually snaps (apparently for the third time) it is decided that it must be destroyed because it is not behaving the way we think it should. And the sad thing is, even if it is released back into the wild, would it have the slightest chance of survival, being as it has been imprisoned for most of it's life?
This incident was entirely human in its making.

[zebra8835]

A killer whale that's used to traveling hundreds of miles in the open sea being put in a "swimming pool" at Sea World is inhumane. If a man were kept in a 4'X 4' cell for twenty years, would anyone be surprised when he snapped? These are highly intelligent and social animals that have been imprisoned, segregated from there own kind and forced to "preform." This animal should be released back to the open sea. His sentence should be commuted.

[bjanchap]

Maggie - I love the Early Show ... I have watched in every morning while getting ready for work for a very long time. However, I have been very disturbed with your interviews the last two morning concerning the accident at Seaworld in Orlando. It seems that you keep pressing the people that you are interviewing that the whale needs to be destroyed. It is an animal, simply acting like an animal. It was not it's choice to be put in captivity, and the trainer knew and accepted the risks and dangers. Please stop hounding the people that you are interviewing ... especially when they are trying to deal with what has happened to their friend.