Update on Orca Whale, Tilikum, at Orlando's Sea World

Sea World is still open for business, even after the death of Dawn Brancheau, one of Sea World's most experienced trainers. Even more, Tilikum still remains in captivity at Sea World in Orlando, Florida. If Tilikum didn't feel closed off from its natural environment, likely the killer whale does now. Sea World in Orland reports that they will not use Tilikum in any more shows until they complete the investigation of Dawn Brancheau's death, according to the bostonherald.com.

How long will this take, though? And what about the whale's health? What's done is done (and this isn't to discount Dawn Brancheau's death). Does Sea World not have an ethical responsibility toward this animal? You Tube shows a clip of Tilikum's confinement in a holding area that surely fails to accommodate the whale's size. So, what does Sea World intend to do? Leave the whale in this tiny holding area? Is this punishment, or is this safety protocol?

Is anyone really safe around this killer whale? This killer whale is, by far, the largest that Sea World Orlando owns, weighing in at 12,000 pounds according to the bostonherald.com. Can Sea World trainers really safely manage such a large animal? The death of Dawn Brancheau suggests that Sea World cannot. So, why does Sea World not let this large killer whale go free? Is it because of the money? (Maybe a wealthy person will purchase Tilikum's freedom. Anyone game?)

An even bigger question is where is the organization called People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)? PETA makes its stand in various ways. Why not get involved in this situation. Someone needs to put some heat on Sea World to let this large creature go back into its natural habitat. Leaving this killer whale in confinement will only ruin its health. Allowing the Orca to perform in shows only endangers more people. And what about now? Even now, the trainers still have to feed Tilikum.

Could Tilikum not do the same thing again? Are the trainers afraid? Can Tilikum not smell the trainers' fear? Doesn't this make the situation worse? Has Sea World placed some physical restrictions on Tilikum that would physically prevent the Orca from committing another such incident? Hopefully so for the safety of the trainers. Even so, this is a double-edged sword because this would be cruel to Tilikum.

So, what happens in the meantime? People continue to pay Sea World to keep this killer whale in captivity? Dawn Brancheau is gone. Sea World will miss her, but the show goes on, as usual? Is this the general attitude? Why do people not ban together and insist on Sea World letting Tilikum go? Let something positive come out of this. Help safeguard other trainers by putting Tilikum back in its natural habitat. This will benefit the whale and the trainers, as well as help Sea World's tarnished reputation.

Resources

bostonherald.com, March 10, 2010, "SeaWorld Orlando reconsiders using Tilikum killer whale in shows"

You Tube, "Witness: Whales Were Not Cooperating"