Killer Whale Trainer Killed at SeaWorld Orlando

After killer whale Tilikum was involved in the death of a third human, his trainer Dawn Brancheau, at SeaWorld Orlando, animal rights activists and even national organizations have used the incident to promote their anti-aquarium agenda.

Fans of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) on Facebook have posted a constant stream of comments since Brancheau's death on Feb. 24, ranging from general suggestions to boycott SeaWorld to paragraphs long tirades demanding the immediate release of not only Tilikum, nicknamed "Tilly", as well as all other animals in SeaWorld's collection.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the HSUS, as well as many other smaller organizations, have made public statements against the capture, breeding and display of wild animals in parks, zoos and aquariums.

However, SeaWorld is bearing far more scrutiny from this tragic incident than it should.

While most animal rights activists claim that SeaWorld is nothing more than a greedy, for-profit theme park, many might not even know about the extensive Rescue and Rehabilitation program that exists there, as well as the Park's focus on education and conservation.

While the number of animals rescued by SeaWorld Parks varies year to year based on weather food availability, animal population levels, and other factors, SeaWorld Orlando rescues about 30 to 40 marine mammals per year, mostly manatees, according to SeaWorld.org. The park's rescue team also takes in 100 to 200 birds and 40 to 50 sea turtles each year.

Most notably, headlines covering the unusually cold winter in Florida in 2010 illustrated the high number of sea turtles rescued due to hypothermia. SeaWorld Orlando rescue teams were involved in these rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

SeaWorld Orlando is also one of the founding institutions of the Southeastern U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network (SEUS).

SeaWorld San Diego also accounts for a large number of marine mammal rescues, mostly pinnipeds (like the California sea lion), as well as around 200 avian (bird) rescues per year.

SeaWorld covers the entire operational costs of these rescue & rehabilitation programs, at a cost of more than $1 million annually.

In addition to these hands-on, on-the-ground rescue & rehabilitation programs across the country, the Worlds of Discovery -- SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove -- support research, wildlife education and and conservation across the globe through the SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.

The operation costs of this Conservation Fund -- meaning the money it takes to keep the lights on in the building, pay staff, purchase supplies, etc. -- are completely covered by profits from the Busch Entertainment Company, which owns/manages all the Worlds of Discovery parks. That means that instead of paying salaries of the employees or purchasing equipment or paying building rents, all monies donated to the Conservation Fund go directly toward research, education and conservation grants.

So, knowing what SeaWorld Orlando and its sister parks do to further animal education and conservation, what options are left for Tilly the orca?

Many are calling for his release to the wild. No doubt, tons of people draw from the popular movie "Free Willy", in which Keiko the killer whale was the star. However, beyond the Hollywood movie glitz, how many people actually know what happened to Keiko?

Keiko was transported to Klettsvik Bay in Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland in September 1998 for preparation to be released. This time included supervised swims in the open ocean. In July 2002, one of the trainers supervising his swim lost track of him, and he was later found near Norway, where he allowed human "fans" to crawl across his back and "play" with him. He had also lost a considerable amount of weight and appeared hungry.

Keiko then died in December 2003 from pneumonia and had beached himself in Taknes Bay, Norway. He was 26 years old, and orcas are estimated to live as old as 35.

Clearly, with two decades spent in captivity under the care and supervision of humans, release would be almost certain death for Tilly.

Surprisingly, some have called for the animal to be euthanized, as he had played a part in the deaths of three humans since 1991. But as orcas are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, euthanasia is also not an option. The Act prohibits the taking of marine mammals, and enacts a moratorium on the import, export and sale of any marine mammal, along with any marine mammal part or product within the United States. Congress defines "take" as "the act of hunting, killing, capture and/or harassment of any marine mammal; or, the attempt at such.

The last, and best, alternative is for Tilly to remain under the care of SeaWorld Orlando animal care and training staff.

Wikipedia, Marine Mammal Protection Act
Wikipedia, Keiko (orca)
SeaWorld Orlando, Rescue & Rehabilitation
SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund