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Whale trainer's death jars safe world of adventure
hosted ^ | 2 hours ago | TAMARA LUSH

Posted on 02/28/2010 12:28:48 PM PST by JoeProBono

ORLANDO, Fla. — It is billed as a leisurely boat tour. The shark surfaces, its fin slicing through the water.

The boat's captain, armed with a grenade launcher, blasts away at the bloodthirsty monster. Nearby gas lines explode and a column of fire erupts into the blue sky. We feel the heat from the flames, hear the shark's body churning in the water. A child hides her face in the crook of her mother's arm and whimpers as chilly water sprays everyone on the boat.

Of course, it isn't real. It's the "Jaws" ride at Universal Studios in Orlando, an attraction that runs hundreds of times a day.

Just miles away, officials at SeaWorld are holding a news conference to explain the death of Dawn Brancheau, a trainer who died when she was dragged underwater by a killer whale named Tilikum.

Orlando is billed as a nonstop adventure capital, ground zero of thrills and chills and action-packed fun — all during family friendly hours and with a $3.99 breakfast buffet to get you going....

(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: dawnbrancheau; fla; jaws; jpb; killerwhaless; marinebiology; orca; orlando; seaworld; tilikum; universalstudios; wildlife
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1 posted on 02/28/2010 12:28:48 PM PST by JoeProBono
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To: JoeProBono

What part of “killer whale” does the entertainment industry NOT understand?


2 posted on 02/28/2010 12:30:05 PM PST by i_dont_chat (We have a cultural crisis–not a heath-care crisis.)
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To: i_dont_chat

3 posted on 02/28/2010 12:31:37 PM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: All

4 posted on 02/28/2010 12:33:02 PM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: i_dont_chat

Humans interact with all types of animals every day that end up killing us....

Dogs, horses, cattle...etc...

What part of acceptable risk do you not understand?

It’s not a bubble wrap world....The trainers knew the risk with working with large sea mammals....They volunteer willingly and overall Sea World has a pretty good safety record....


5 posted on 02/28/2010 12:34:59 PM PST by nevergore ("It could be that the purpose of my life is simply to serve as a warning to others.")
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To: All

Killer whale to be spared as ponytail blamed for trainer death

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7317922/Killer-whale-to-be-spared-as-ponytail-blamed-for-trainer-death.html


6 posted on 02/28/2010 12:36:06 PM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: All

7 posted on 02/28/2010 1:05:54 PM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: JoeProBono

Wow, how do you even reply to something like that?


8 posted on 02/28/2010 1:09:50 PM PST by Bulwyf
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To: Bulwyf

Today it’s the pony tail that’s to blame, tomorrow it will a set of too large boobs. I wonder what will be next.


9 posted on 02/28/2010 1:17:45 PM PST by 353FMG (Save the Planet -- Eliminate Socialism)
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To: JoeProBono

Or maybe wear a swimming cap and NOT wear a wet suit- difficult in the temp water Orca likes. But the wet suits feel like seal skin and fond memories of seal meals.


10 posted on 02/28/2010 1:20:14 PM PST by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: 353FMG

Subject has not been broached in the media, she was 40 y.o. and have heard there are rules about female hormones in the water— ie monthly hormones released into the water. Tillikum is a male stud Orca, which is a dolphin/whale family. About which read the reactions sometimes of dolphins in FL Keys dolphin encounter pools. Male dolphins get uh, excited.


11 posted on 02/28/2010 1:22:40 PM PST by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: 353FMG

Remember how the Las Vegas tigers were really trying to save the guy by dragging him off the stage and chomping him.

Always ludicrous excuses. First it was a lady’s hat in the audience.


12 posted on 02/28/2010 1:27:28 PM PST by Carley (Are you better off now than one year ago? HELL NO!!!!!)
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To: John S Mosby

The next woman in the water with Tilikum will have to be pretty brave. He now knows that his killing of Dawn Brancheau has gone unpunished.


13 posted on 02/28/2010 1:34:28 PM PST by 353FMG (Save the Planet -- Eliminate Socialism)
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To: 353FMG
The next woman in the water with Tilikum will have to be pretty brave. He now knows that his killing of Dawn Brancheau has gone unpunished.

Now all Killer Whales will think they can get away with it. The Death Penalty is the only deterrent Killer Whales understand.

14 posted on 02/28/2010 1:40:34 PM PST by Doe Eyes
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To: JoeProBono

Just like Crocodile Hunter.

It pays to remember that no matter HOW MANY TIMES you are near a wild animal, IT IS STILL WILD!

I often think these animal extremists push the limit. If they end up as dinner sometimes, hey, that’s not the animals fault!


15 posted on 02/28/2010 1:46:07 PM PST by djf (Islam. Kick them out TODAY or they will KILL US TOMORROW!!)
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To: Carley
Always ludicrous excuses.

Not excuses, explanations. An excuse is an attempt to escape moral accountability; animals have none to begin with.

16 posted on 02/28/2010 1:49:51 PM PST by ReignOfError
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To: Doe Eyes

Will it be by hanging, electric chair or gas chamber?


17 posted on 02/28/2010 1:51:35 PM PST by 353FMG (Save the Planet -- Eliminate Socialism)
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To: JoeProBono
When I was a kid, I had a beagle that killed my caged rabbits, chickens, and ducks on-by-one when I was at school. How do I punish a dog that I got for hunting? I'm sure she knew I didn't want her practicing on those animals since she didn't pay any attention to them while I was home.

Maybe it's not a good idea for humans to play with very large wild carnivores with razor sharp teeth...?

18 posted on 02/28/2010 1:54:48 PM PST by uncommonsense (Liberals see what they believe; Conservatives believe what they see.)
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To: JoeProBono
The poor whale was just playing with her. How was he supposed to know humans can drown?

sw

19 posted on 02/28/2010 1:57:50 PM PST by spectre ( Spectre's wife)
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To: spectre

20 posted on 02/28/2010 2:25:24 PM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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