[Carolyn Tillie]

Killed by whale

Very curious what this will do to all the other killer whale shows that exist.

ETA - edited to change audience reference due to conflicting reports.

[mongo_jones]

i'm more likely to watch now.

[prasantrin]

Things like this make me so angry.

Someone please tell me why people have the need to treat animals (especially large wild animals) like play things. Elephants, lions, tigers, whales. . . they're not frickin' pets that you can get to do tricks so you can clap and laugh and pretend they're toys.

Dumb. Asses.

I do feel for the woman's family and friends, and cannot imagine how horrible the experience was. But I believe wild animal shows need to be banned. They do absolutely no service to people, and I'm certain they do more harm than good to the animals.

[Cathy]

I couldn't agree more, pras.

[g.johnson]

That's why they're called killer whales. For the similar reasons when you eat artisinal kielbasa in Oregon it's called New Brooklyn Cuisine.

[Lippy]

Well said, Prasantrin

[Ron Johnson]

Go here and read more about the harm caused by taking these animals out of their habitat and making them our playthings.

I'm no vegan, but stuff like this really pisses me off.

[prasantrin]

This just makes me angrier and angrier.

After the whale killed the first time (whether it was accidental or not), you'd have thought people might have said, "Hmmmmm. . . maybe we shouldn't be using this whale in our shows." After the second time, what dumbass thought it would be a good idea forcing the animal to continue performing?

I hope the trainer's family sues the pants off the aquarium (but not so much that it might cause the death of the animal involved or any other animal at the aquarium).

[Carolyn Tillie]

I've requested the moderators change the title of the thread to include the trainer's name, Dawn Brancheau.

According to a profile of Brancheau in the Orlando Sentinel in 2006, she was one of SeaWorld Orlando's leading trainers. It was apparently a trip to SeaWorld at age 9 that made her want to follow that career path.

"I remember walking down the aisle (of Shamu Stadium) and telling my mom, 'This is what I want to do,"' she said in the article.

Brancheau worked her way into a leadership role at Shamu Stadium during her 12-year career with SeaWorld, starting at the Sea Lion&Otter Stadium before spending the past 10 years working with killer whales, the newspaper said.

She also addressed the dangers of the job.

"You can't put yourself in the water unless you trust them and they trust you," Brancheau said.

RIP

[mongo_jones]

some details

Two other witnesses told the Sentinel that the whale grabbed the woman by the upper arm and tossed her around in its mouth while swimming rapidly around the tank. Brazilian tourist Joao Lucio DeCosta Sobrinho and his girlfriend were at an underwater viewing area when they suddenly saw a whale with a person in its mouth.

The couple said they watched the whale show at the park two days earlier and came back to take pictures. But on Wednesday the whales appeared agitated.

"It was terrible. It's very difficult to see the image," Sobrinho said.

i guess their camera doesn't have a delete button.

[prasantrin]

They've resumed whale shows at SeaWorld.

Question--are they stupid?

[splinky]

They've resumed whale shows at SeaWorld.

Question--are they stupid?

um, yes! clearly the seaworld folks have never heard of risk management

[OTB]

Go here and read more about the harm caused by taking these animals out of their habitat and making them our playthings.

I'm no vegan, but stuff like this really pisses me off.

If you really want to get pissed off you should see The Cove, which was nominated for an Oscar this year.

[prasantrin]

Go here and read more about the harm caused by taking these animals out of their habitat and making them our playthings.

I'm no vegan, but stuff like this really pisses me off.

If you really want to get pissed off you should see The Cove, which was nominated for an Oscar this year.

I haven't seen it, but that movie has been getting a lot of negative press in Japan (which tells you it was probably right on target).

[OTB]

Go here and read more about the harm caused by taking these animals out of their habitat and making them our playthings.

I'm no vegan, but stuff like this really pisses me off.

If you really want to get pissed off you should see The Cove, which was nominated for an Oscar this year.

I haven't seen it, but that movie has been getting a lot of negative press in Japan (which tells you it was probably right on target).

If you have a weak stomach you might not want to see it. Definitely do NOT let kids watch it.