There was a rare incident in SeaWorld Orlando today- a killer whale caused the death of an experienced trainer in the killer whale stadium. While the events are largely unknown as of yet, witnesses reported that one of the killer whales appeared to be dragging someone by the arm underwater. The victim was 40-year-old trainer Dawn Brancheau, who was said to have “extensive training experience” with the whales. Some people-mainly animal rights activists- believe that the whale’s agitation was largely due to being in captivity. The park closed off the area, telling guests the area was simple “closed for now,” while the news spread outside the park. An investigation has been launched into the incident.
The killer whale, Tilikum, was kept away from other killer whales due to its violent history.
An incident in 2005 occurred when an “overexcited” whale bumped a trainer during a show, but injuries were minor.
In any case, this is a tragic event but also the first in the history of any SeaWorld park.