Posted on 02/26/2010 1:30:07 PM PST by JoeProBono
Tilikum, the male killer whale that fatally injured trainer Dawn Brancheau in front of a stunned audience at SeaWorld in Orlando on Wednesday, was a breeding "stud" often housed in isolation.
Experts believe he did not kill for food, but may have been acting out due to stress and raging hormones.
While some reports have been portraying Tilikum as a particularly aggressive orca, a nearly identical incident involving another killer whale male named Ky occurred in July 2004 at the San Antonio SeaWorld.
Trainer Steve Aibel, like Brancheau, was pulled underwater by the whale, which also attempted to bite, but Aibel walked away uninjured. He later blamed Ky's "adolescent hormones" for the episode.
Marine biologist Nancy Blake told Discovery News that Tilikum could have acted out for similar reasons.
"He was used a lot [by SeaWorld] for mating, and could have even been enacting a mating behavior during the incident," explained Blake, a leading expert on killer whales who runs California's Monterey Bay Whale Watch.
According to GREMM, a Quebec-based marine mammal research and education group, intense competition may take place between male whales before mating. Males and females may also challenge each other, with females sometimes changing their diving behavior during the process.
Captured near Iceland in November 1983, Tilikum "was housed in small tanks from the beginning," said Blake. SeaWorld Orlando acquired the whale in January 1992, and put him in a breeding program shortly thereafter.
Orca, Killer Whale: View pictures, watch video, explore interactives and more.
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More at Animal Planet.com Over the years, Tilikum has sired at least 17 calves, 10 of which are still alive, making him the most successful orca father in captivity. He is also the only captive killer whale grandfather.
His captivity, frequent breeding and the fact that Tilikum was caught in the wild could all have contributed to Wednesday’s fatality, Blake believes.
"It is my understanding that he is often kept by himself," she said. "That is not natural. Males in the wild generally live with their mothers and other family members. Such social contact is critical to their development."
She said he may even have "lashed out" at Brancheau due to "stress and boredom."
It is TRULY UTTERLY sickening to keep these animals in captivity like that.
They don’t belong at “sea world”.
>> Killer Whale Trainer Death Tied to Mating, Isolation
Heard about the Jolly Green Giant ...
The cat stands tall and green
Well, he ain’t no prize, and there’s no women his size
And that’s why the cat’s so mean
this guy has been coupe up for 27 years
I agree. I did some research on the orcas, and, normally, they are not human killers unless in captivity. God created huge oceans, and, IMO, these whales belong in the open waters - not in captivity. They basically are not isolationists.
As much as we all love the entertainment aspect of these shows, I wish these whales would be freed into their natural habitat. IN the wild, they live up to 50 years old, and only 30 in captivity.
Thanks for the info. I love animals, and I much prefer them to be left alone in their native habitat, even if that means I (or others) don’t get to “enjoy” them. When I used to take my kids to zoos, I didn’t like seeing animals in jails.
I agree - God created plenty of living space for animals. Humans are supposed to be caretakers, and that means caring about.
What's next ? The Hollywood Argyles and Alley Oop? ;-)
“[he] may have been acting out due to stress and raging hormones.
Sounds like Harry Reid’s typical unemployed male.
good observation......
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