EXCLUSIVE: SeaWorld Fined After Killer Whale Drowns Trainer - "It Was An Accident" Says Victim's Mom
Posted on Aug 23, 2010 @ 05:25PM - 4 comments
The tragic and violent death of Dawn Bracheau, the trainer who was killed by Tilikum, a six-ton killer whale at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, on February 24 has resulted in the water park being fined by federal regulators on Monday. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed $75,000 in fines against SeaWorld parks for allowing animal trainers to work with killer whales without adequate protection.
Inglourious Basterds Star Eli Roth Blasts SeaWorld After Whale Attack
Posted on Mar 22, 2010 @ 12:05PM - 10 comments
Hollywood has now jumped into the controversy surrounding the February incident in which a SeaWorld trainer was violently killed by an orca whale. RadarOnline.com has obtained the letter fired off by Inglourious Basterds star Eli Roth to the theme park's owners.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Whale Advocate Blames Sea World For Trainer's Death
"All the violence and suffering in my films is pretend - no one is hurt, ever. Sadly, the same is not true at SeaWorld, which targets their entertainment at families and children," Roth wrote. "You are sending a far more dangerous message to kids, whose lives would be just as happy and fulfilled without seeing a large intelligent creature jump around to music for their entertainment, and would probably take a more active interest in protecting whales if they saw them out in the ocean where they belong."
VIDEO: Witness Describes Whale Attack; Whale Killed 2 In Past
Killed SeaWorld Trainer Believed in Trust Relationship with Whales
Roth's full letter to Hamilton James, CEO of The Blackstone Group (which owns SeaWorld), is as follows:
Hamilton James
President and COO
The Blackstone Group
Dear Mr. James:
I am writing on behalf of my friends at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). As you may know, PETA is the world's largest animal rights organization, with more than 2 million members and supporters around the world.
I feel that I speak for many people when I say that while I was deeply saddened and upset by the tragic death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau, I was equally appalled and horrified by the conditions in which SeaWorld keeps its orcas (and other marine life) for the sole purpose of entertaining humans. As someone who works in the entertainment business, I can assure you that there are many humane alternatives available to introduce the public to orcas without having to hold them in captivity for a lifetime against their will. CGI technology, animatronics, and other state-of-the-art virtual reality exhibits could be used in place of the current live-animal shows to provide park visitors with an exciting, educational experience. In fact, showing visitors a more realistic version of what life is like for real marine mammals rather than displaying the captive animals' unnatural and repetitive behavior patterns‹which are linked to their oppressive environment‹is actually more educational, with no risk to human life. Having grown up in Massachusetts, I often went whale watching and cannot stress the impact on me of seeing whales in their natural environment, not cooped up in a tank performing mundane tricks.
The death of a SeaWorld trainer did not have to happen, and I urge you now to please take action so that it does not happen again. Would you please consider moving your captive orcas and other marine mammals to transitional coastal and wildlife sanctuaries now? Not only is it the humane thing to do, it may well also become, in the long run, the most cost-effective thing to do as public sentiment moves away from watching captive animals perform stunts for human amusement.
As you know, Keiko, the orca who starred in the 1993 movie Free Willy, was returned to his native waters in Iceland in September 1998 after many years of captivity in a facility in Mexico City. Keiko spent the last five years of his life in relative freedom, during which he swam from Iceland to Norway, successfully navigating more than 1,000 kilometers of open ocean. Tilikum deserves the same opportunity, and the wildlife experts who worked on Keiko's rehabilitation can and should be called upon to do the same for Tilikum. I have heard people say that Tilikum would die in the wild, but in truth many of us would rather see his life end in the freedom of the wild ocean, rather than spend the rest of his life trapped in a tank being forced to perform humiliating tasks.
Last month's incident, as you know, was not the first time that a trainer has been seized, thrown against the walls of the tank, and held underwater by a frustrated orca. It was far more horrific than anything I ever dreamed up in my horror films. All the violence and suffering in my films is pretend - no one is hurt, ever. Sadly, the same is not true at SeaWorld, which targets their entertainment at families and children. You are sending a far more dangerous message to kids, whose lives would be just as happy and fulfilled without seeing a large intelligent creature jump around to music for their entertainment, and would probably take a more active interest in protecting whales if they saw them out in the ocean where they belong.
I very respectfully urge the Blackstone Group to immediately proceed with a plan to release the marine mammals at SeaWorld theme parks to sanctuaries that can provide them with a more natural environment.
On behalf of everyone who wants to see whales and dolphins living free in their ocean homes, I thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Eli Roth
AUDIO: 911 Call In Whale Trainer's Death Released
Posted on Mar 04, 2010 @ 06:57AM - 4 comments
RadarOnline.com has been following the tragic death of Florida SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau, and on Thursday we received the 911 call that was made moments after Tilikum, a 12,000-pound killer whale, dragged Brancheau and held her underwater, where she drowned.
The first call was made by an unidentified woman who wasn't aware of the magnitude of what had happened, but sensed trouble.
"They are at Shamu Stadium. We actually have a trainer in the water with one of our whales," the 911 caller told the operator. "The whale that they're not supposed to be in the water with -- so we don't know what's going on. We were just told to call and have people here on standby when they get the person out."
The operator said: "You don't know if the person was injured or they're having a medical problem?"
"No idea," the caller responded. "I don't even think they're out of the water yet, they're still in there with the whale."
Asked the operator: "OK. But someone is on scene and they are getting them out of the water now?"
"There are people working on it, yes," the caller responded. "There's about two to three dozen people over there right now."
The caller contacted 911 two additional times after the initial contact, once to report that park officials had begun using a device called the AED (automated external defibrillator) and a second to confirm that emergency vehicles should enter the theme park via Gate 3.
Brancheau, a 40-year-old Indiana native, was married with no kids. More than 1,200 people showed up to her funeral in Illinois earlier this week.
New Details About Whale Attack Responsible for SeaWorld Trainer's Death
Posted on Mar 01, 2010 @ 05:05PM - 11 comments
On Monday, Florida's Orange County Sheriff's Department released the witness statements relating to the death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau. RadarOnline.com has copies of the statements which add chilling detail about the lead up to and aftermath of whale Tilikum's February 24 attack.
Read the Witness Statements
Jan Topeleski, a trainer spotter who Brancheau supervised, was in the underwater viewing area preparing for the guiding animal show and photo tour during which the trainers get the whales to come to the glass to pose for a picture for the theme park's guests.
VIDEO: Witness Describes Whale Attack; Whale Killed 2 In Past
"[I was] watching Dawn Brancheau interact at the end of the pool. She was lying down...face to face performing a 'relationship' session with our whale," he wrote in his statement. "I then noticed immediately that he bit down on a piece of her hair. Within the span of 2 seconds she was pulled into the pool, unable to get her hair released from his mouth. I immediately sounded the alarm..."
Chahine Kish also attested to how quickly events turned. "I was cleaning up my section and watching Dawn the trainer play w/Tilly [the whale]. She was running along side of him. I looked down at my table, then up again and she was gone."
Kish quickly realized what had happened. "I saw Tilly surface with a trainer in his mouth. He was becoming frantic himself."
Killed SeaWorld Trainer Believed in Trust Relationship with Whales
Shortly after the alarms sounded, the guests were quickly evacuated from the site. One senior animal trainer at the Sea Lions and Otter Stadium related that once they restrained the whale his "mouth had to be pryed [sic] open" to retrieve Brancheau.
Anthony Sharp, a paramedic for SeaWorld Orlando, said medical responders to the scene pronounced Brancheau dead. Echoed medic Thomas Tobin: "monitor rhythm and wounds inconsistent with life."
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Whale Advocate Blames Sea World For Trainer's Death
Killer Whale Will Remain Part of Sea World Shows, Statement From Family
Posted on Feb 26, 2010 @ 01:30PM - 7 comments
The shows at all three SeaWorld parks will resume tomorrow, but trainers will not be allowed inside water tanks until an internal investigation is complete, RadarOnline.com has confirmed.
VIDEO: Expert Whale Trainer Made Fatal Mistake
In a News Conference from Orlando, Florida, Friday afternoon, SeaWord CEO Jim Atchison said “we will make improvements and changes and move forward.”
Atchison also confirmed that Tilikum, the killer whale, grabbed trainer Dawn Brancheau’s ponytail and pulled her underwater Wednesday.
Although the 12,000-pound whale was connected with two other deaths, Atchison says “no animal is ever subject to any punishment and Tilikum is no exception.”
Atchison, who held his news conference in front of a huge tank of killer whales, called Tilikum “a wonderful animal.”
He said the orca “ will remain an active contributing member of the team, despite what happened.” Atchison also reveals that a surveillance camera caught video of the incident and that it was offered to authorities.
PHOTOS: When Animals Attack
A trust will be formed in the name of 40 year-old Dawn Brancheau, whom Atchison called “a much beloved employee.”
He also released this statement from her family:
Whale Trainer Died From Multiple Traumatic Injuries and Drowing
“You have all heard what an amazing trainer Dawn Brancheau was, and that is true.
She was the best. It came natural to her. Being a trainer was a lifelong dream that she achieved.
She loved her job and she loved her animals. For her husband, family and friends, Dawn was so much more—a compassionate and loving person who lived life to the fullest.
She touched so many lives. To those who loved her and suffered a tremendous loss, one so unexpected, it is extremely difficult to even process or comprehend at this time. Our family sincerely appreciates everyone’s prayers and compassion and thoughts for Dawn and her husband and family. While we understand that this tragic event is capturing headlines across the country, at this time our family needs space and privacy to absorb our loss. We sincerely hope that the media will honor this request.”
Funeral services will be held in Chicago Sunday and Monday. And a memorial service will be held in Orlando at a later date.
VIDEO: Expert - Whale Trainer Made Fatal Mistake
Posted on Feb 26, 2010 @ 01:50AM - 9 comments
The Florida SeaWorld trainer who was drowned by an orca whale Wednesday made a mistake that triggered the animal's deadly reaction, her former trainer told Good Morning America Friday.
In a new twist to a story RadarOnline.com has been following closely, Thad Lacinak said the late Dawn Brancheau broke protocol with Tilikum, the 12,000-pound whale who dragged and held her underwater, drowning her.
The break in protocol was Brancheau lying down in a 4-inch "slide out" device intended for the trainers to stand on, Lacinak said.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW & VIDEO: Mother Of Killed Whale Trainer -"My Daughter Died Doing What She Loved"
Posted on Feb 25, 2010 @ 10:54AM - 14 comments
Marion Loverde, the mother of SeaWorld whale trainer Dawn Brancheau, exclusively told RadarOnline.com on Thursday that her daughter would not want Tilikum the killer whale to be “put down”.
The 40-year old trainer -- whose dream was to work at SeaWorld’s Shamu Stadium - died when 12,000 lbs Tilikium pulled her into the orca’s tank on Wednesday afternoon, drowning her as horrified visitors looked on.
Meanwhile, RadarOnline.com has obtained video of Brancheau performing with Tilikium back in 2008 at SeaWorld.
VIDEO: Witness Describes Whale Attack; Whale Killed 2 In Past
Posted on Feb 25, 2010 @ 05:30AM - 6 comments
A woman who saw the whale attack in an underground viewing area at the Orlando, Florida SeaWorld Wednesday, told The Today Show Thursday about the tragic string of events that led to the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau.
PHOTOS: Dawn Brancheau At Florida SeaWorld
RadarOnline.com has the latest on Brancheau, who drowned Wednesday after Tilikum, a 12,000-pound male orca whale, grabbed her in his jowls and pulled her under the water, drowning her.
Witness: Whale Emerged From Water With Trainer In Its Mouth
Posted on Feb 25, 2010 @ 04:15AM - 17 comments
Eyewitnesses to the whale attack at Orlando, Florida SeaWorld recounted the horror Wednesday when Tilikum, a 12,000-pound male orca whale, grabbed trainer Dawn Brancheau and pulled her into the water, where she drowned.
PHOTOS: Dawn Brancheau At Florida SeaWorld
Michigan native Eldon Skaggs was eating his lunch in the area during the Dine With Shamu program, RadarOnline.com has learned, when tragedy reared its’ ugly head.
Killed SeaWorld Trainer Believed in Trust Relationship with Whales
Posted on Feb 24, 2010 @ 08:39PM - 6 comments
Dawn Brancheau, the SeaWorld Orlando trainer who recently was killed by a whale, believed in the special relationship between the trainer and the animal. RadarOnline.com unearthed an old interview in which she discussed her childhood passion for the profession and talked about trust in the tank.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Whale Advocate Blames Sea World For Trainer's Death
"You can't put yourself in the water unless you trust them and they trust you," Brancheau told the Orlando Sentinel in January 2006 when the theme park revamped its signature Shamu show to feature new interactions between the whales and their trainers.
She reportedly died on Wednesday after slipping into the pool of a 30-year old whale named Tilikum- an animal responsible for two previous deaths.
Tiger Woods Takes Kids to Sea World
In the interview, she also described the moment she decided to be a trainer.
"I remember walking down the aisle [of Shamu Stadium] and telling my mom, 'This is what I want to do,'" she said about a trip to SeaWorld when she was nine. She began her career working at the Sea Lion & Otter Stadium before then spending over a decade working with killer whales.
