ORLANDO, Fla. — The orca whale that drowned a trainer last year at SeaWorld in Orlando resumed performing Wednesday for the first time since the woman’s death.
Tilikum participated in the marine park’s signature “Believe” show before a crowd of thousands, more than a year since drowning 40-year-old Dawn Brancheau during a performance on Feb. 24, 2010.
No trainer has been allowed in the water during the shows since Brancheau’s death and they remained out of the pool Wednesday for the performance before the audience filling 5,000-seat Shamu Stadium to capacity.
Orlando resident Wendy Santiago said her family has been attending SeaWorld shows for years and she and her husband, Marcos, and their two children made a point of being present for Tilikum’s return. She said the tragedy left her sad though she was pleased to see Tilikum performing again.
“You never can tell with any of these animals — they are wild animals,” Wendy Santiago said of the trainer’s death. But she added, tears welling in her eyes at the show’s conclusion, “I’m happy today that I was able to see him perform.”
Marcos Santiago said he also experienced a mix of feelings while watching the show with their 3-year-old son and 4-month-old daughter.
“I’ve love SeaWorld, ever since I was a little kid and used to come here many times,” he said. “I fell in love with Shamu, and so did my son. So to me it was very emotional to be here on this day.”
The park is still working on plans to get trainers back in the water with the whales. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration last summer accused SeaWorld of recklessly putting trainers in danger. The company is fighting OSHA’s citations and a $75,000 fine. SeaWorld contends its parks have a good safety record during more than four decades of shows involving killer whales.
Since the death, SeaWorld officials have drawn up plans to spend millions of dollars on safety upgrades. Measures include installing rising pool floors that can quickly lift people and the whales from the water, underwater vehicles to distract the marine animals in emergencies and portable oxygen bottles for trainers.
SeaWorld Animal Training Curator Kelly Flaherty Clark said in a written statement that returning Tilikum to performing at this time is what’s best for the whale.
“Participating in shows is just a portion of Tilikum’s day, but we feel it is an important component of his physical, social and mental enrichment,” Clark said. “He has been regularly interacting with his trainers and the other whales for purposes of training, exercise and social and mental stimulation, and has enjoyed access to all of the pools in the Shamu Stadium complex.”
The statement said SeaWorld would continue the same methods of caring for Tilikum that have been in place for more than a year.
Still, many of the people who watched Tilikum perform drove past about a dozen protesters outside the gates complaining the killer whales should not be held in captivity. Several held up signs reading, “Free Tilly.”
Though there was no special reference to Tilikum’s return during the Wednesday morning show, veteran SeaWorld attendee David Wythe said the whale’s return was clearly the main draw.
“That’s exactly why we were here,” said Wythe, a Kissimmee resident. “Me personally, I believe Tilikum should have been back in the shows a long time ago.”
In the accident that killed Brancheau, she was nose-to-nose with the whale when her long hair floated into the animal’s mouth and she was dragged in, authorities said. They added that she managed to free herself initially, but the whale continued to strike and thrash her. The tragedy unfolded shortly after a “Dine with Shamu” show, and some guests were still in the area.
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