SeaWorld trainer dies in killer whale attack in Orlando

[Lepape2]

Are they going to try to kill this whale? If not, its time SeaWorld wakes up or Shamu will start to hunger on human prey once more. If they do kill it, GreenPeace will kill the manager and revive Shamu...  ... huh... yeah 

Either way, Shamu wins 

[RTHolmes]

to lighten the mood, heres a quick fishy musical interlude:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBMcvV8ASXc

[Ghosth]

Even Elephants in India that have been more or less domesticated for many century's every now and then just go over the edge and rampage, killing and wounding people.

Its a wild animal, and a dang smart one, and an apex predator.
You would never get me in the same tank with one. Watch from outside with awe and drool yes. Climb in with it, sorry, but my self preservation instinct kicks in right about there.

From what I've seen, heard, this particular animal has had issues in the past. Either release it to the wild, or put it out of its misery. It certainly can never be trusted.

[crazyivan]

Supposedly there were two other occasions or deaths this whale was involved in..... 

Yeah, the news said this particular whale was only used for splashing. It's sad when someone forgets their playing with a wild animal.

  to her and the family

[morfiend]

 This whale was in Vancouver for many years and yes had been involved in "trainer accidents" before.He was sent to Florida for breeding purposes was was not to be use for "exhibition" purposes.

 Why he was in the holding pen he was in is still unknown but his act upon the trainer was not agressive,it was a playfull behaviour he had developed and do to his size and strength it had become dangerous to be in or around the water with him.

 He was just playing catch with the trainer,using the trainer as the ball!  It was well known to all involved,someone just made a fatal mistake and saddly the animal is to blame!

   

[Maniac]

[Karnak]

Orca video with a totally over the top commentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BweCsUIBDa8


Commentary makes it borderline comedy.

[RTHolmes]

"killer rampage!" 

very cool animals

[rogwar]

It's a 12,000 pound animal. A human is going to loose big time even if it chooses to get only a little bit out of control.

Heck livestock can be lethal. Mass often wins. It's 2:42AM and I should probably go to bed.

[AKKuya]

When I was 17 and taking Marine Biology in high school, I was offered the oppurtunity during spring break to work at Sea World in Orlando.  I was placed in merchandising assigned to Shamu Stadium selling plush toys in-between shows.

Even being a temp for a week, the trainers always made time to answer any of our questions.  The main question asked to them was are you afraid of being either squashed or accidentally caught in the whale's mouth?  Everyone of them acknowledged these possible outcomes no different then asking any military airborne person about parachutes not deploying correctly or descending through tree branches too fast.  The trainers work with the animals on a daily basis and it comes down to one thing.  Trust.

I also was able to watch the practice sessions between newer trainers and experienced whales and experienced trainers and newer whales.  These are the most dangerous times.  Sometimes the animals become so caught up with the fun and excitement that they may swim underwater a little bit longer before rising to the surface to allow the trainer some air.  The whales can be underwater for extreme lengths of time beyond human endurance.  Sometimes the wetsuits can cause trainers to slip on the smooth surface of the whales.

Unfornutately, I wasn't allowed to swim with the whales.  I would jump in the tank with right now if Sea World would let me.  There is a lengthy process of paperwork and medical examinations before they let you and of course a certain amount of money involved.  I did get to pet the whales all the time and stick my hand on their tongues.  Those teeth are big.

One of the things the trainers told us was that the whales can distinguish between employees and guests clothing.  We at first thouight that was a joke.  Turns out they were not joking.  One day, myself and another classmate were standing with our backs to the tank looking up at the stadium seating where the video cameras were positioned.  It was a typical Florida day with a blue sky and no clouds.  Then we felt a shower of rain strike us from above.  We turned back to the tank and saw baby Namu still white and gray bobbing his head up and down after showering with us from his blowhole.  The trainers said that he only did that to employees and not guests.  Other baby Namus decide for themselves on that matter.

It is tragic that a trainer died.  If there was an earlier interview conducted with her on the sunbject of accidental deaths.  I'm very confident that a part of answer would be that the animal is truly not to be blamed or punished.  She entered a career that she loved and knew the risks.  She died doing what she loved and with the whales she loved.  The relationship between the trainers and the whales are closer between human owners and dogs and cats.

Not to be humourous, many trainers do say that the time spent with the whales is often closer than spouses and teenage children.  Whales won't make you sleep on the couch or play really loud stereo music.

[Raptor]

More people are killed by domestic dogs than killer whales.

I don't remember the first incident this whale was involved in, but the second incident a man snuck into SeaWorld in order to swim with the whales at night. They found him in the tank with bruises and cuts on him the next day.

[AAJagerX]

Just read that Sea World is going to keep Tellicum.  Probably only for breeding purposes as originally intended though.  Good to see that they didn't flip out and go Roy Schneider on him.

AAJagerX

[Shuffler]

Unfornutately, I wasn't allowed to swim with the whales.  I would jump in the tank with right now if Sea World would let me.  There is a lengthy process of paperwork and medical examinations before they let you and of course a certain amount of money involved.  I did get to pet the whales all the time and stick my hand on their tongues.  Those teeth are big.

My youngest daughter did the interaction program at Seaworld San Antonio. Here she is with the baluga whales.

[Maniac]

So many witty comments spring to mind by those pictures, but i will let it go, think im getting soft, but hey dude, stop posting family pictures on the internet, for your own good.

[Shuffler]

Doesn't hurt.... want to see some pics of a few guns