Whale that killed its trainer won't be isolated

Associated Press ^ | Feb. 25, 2010 | MIKE SCHNEIDER

[Free ThinkerNY]

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Trainers will continue to work with a killer whale that grabbed one of their colleagues and dragged her underwater, killing her, but SeaWorld said Thursday it is reviewing its procedures.

People lined up to get into the Orlando park a day after the whale named Tilikum killed veteran trainer Dawn Brancheau as a horrified audience watched.

Tilikum had been involved in two previous deaths, including a Canadian trainer dragged under water by him and two others whales in 1991.

[OldDeckHand]

"Just because most dogs are man's best friend doesn't mean you give a pit bull pardon after pardon after it attacks and kills someone."

Domesticated dogs aren't expected to kill people. This Killer whale, OTOH, was simply exhibiting his instinctual behavior. The trainer clearly was cognizant of the dangers of her profession and assumed the liability in choosing to work with wild and potentially dangerous animals.

The whale can't be held culpable for acting like a killer whale.

[Tatze]

These trainers know and accept the risks of working with killer whales.

[geege]

I’m sorry for the trainer, just free it...it dosen’t belong there anyway....

[swarthyguy]

Lord, you want to use logic in America today.

[nomad]

Does anyone know where to view any of the videos taken?

[skr]

Do Orcas fear man? The only other option, for safety’s sake, is euthanasia. What insurance company in their right mind would insure those who work with this particular animal?

[Oldpuppymax]

It’s a KILLER Whale for God’s sake. He doesn’t KNOW he supposed to be a water logged Lassie!

[nomad]

Or a rug doctor.

[-YYZ-]

” So they obviously knew it was a problem animal.”

Not really a problem animal - it’s a great big wild carnivorous sea mammal, not a freaking pet. I’m surprised this sort of thing does not happen more often, actually.

[truthguy]

There should be manslaughter charges against SeaWorld.

Are you jesting or are you serious. People who work with dangerous animals know that there are risks associated with the job. They do it anyhow. They are willing to take the risks because they love the job. It doesn't matter whether it's a Tiger, Polar Bear, or Killer Whale. It's a risk that the people who work with animals are willing to take.

Ask any animal trainer and they will tell you this. For SeaWorld to be responsible for this woman's death is beyond stupid. They should be completely free of ANY liability. This woman knew the dangers of her job and she accepted those dangers. If you are serious then your attitude is a huge part of the problem we face today in an unregulated and overly litigious society. If serious, you are a big part of the problem. Think about it.

[Liberty1970]

The whale can't be held culpable for acting like a killer whale.

Then why not yawn and let things go when a bear acts like a bear and kills someone? It is still prudent to save the life of the next victim when we have a known problem animal.

Are there any other fatalities associated with any of the other 50+ killer whales in captivity? If not, then I suggest it is prudent to put this one out of harm's way, one way or the other. It is the outlier, and the reasons why are a secondary concern.

[truthguy]

Unregulated S/B over regulated. I got so mad at the poster I was replying to that I didn't proofread.

[OldDeckHand]

"Then why not yawn and let things go when a bear acts like a bear and kills someone?"

Presumably because the bear has free reign to roam wherever he chooses, and as such poses continued risk to the public. The whale certainly cannot swim from home to home, terrorizing children at play.

The only person (people) or animal with any culpability here is the trainer and the management staff of Sea World. If the animal is so unpredictable, that it needs to be isolated, then so be it. But, that's not license to kill it out of pure convenience. Either return it to the wild, or continue to care for it, as is the park's assumed responsibility when it placed it (or it's parents) into captivity.

[truthguy]

Please read my comments @50. They apply to you as well. I think it’s ironic that you choose the word Liberty as part of your tag. Think about it.

[Reaganesque]

Even Great White Sharks fear the Killer Whale. Why would anyone be at all surprised when a KILLER whale does what comes naturally?

[Carley]

LOLOL.......oh, I have heard lots of bad jokes about Cleveland but your comment is the funniest.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Watch what orcas do!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42mg0FnRicA

[oh8eleven]

IIRC, there are no reports of an Orca attacking man in the wild.
Yet, this whale has a history while in captivity.

[Liberty1970]

The only person (people) or animal with any culpability here is the trainer and the management staff of Sea World. If the animal is so unpredictable, that it needs to be isolated, then so be it. But, that's not license to kill it out of pure convenience.

You consider saving human lives a matter of 'pure convenience'?

You do understand that one of the three dead was not a trainer or on the staff, correct? I had initially made the same point you did in my 'mitigate' comment in my first post, before realizing my mistake of saying only trainers are at risk. While not condoning trespassing in the least, it's clear that trainers are not the only ones at risk if they are not the only ones who have already died.

I believe in liberty - that is, freedom to act in within a moral context. That applies solely to humans who operate within a moral framework. It does not extend to animals in either sense. That is, I don't blame the animal for 'murder' in a human sense, but neither to I say the animal is blameless and that it should be allowed to kill again. The dead victim's liberty has been dramatically curtailed, and that is what matters.

[Liberty1970]

Cf. post #59.