Update: During today’s Sea World briefing, a spokesman said the park will resume whale shows, but trainers won’t get in the water.
In response to the media’s tireless coverage of the death of Sea World trainer Dawn Brancheau, the 40-year-old’s family has issued a statement to Florida TV’s News 13. “Being a trainer was a life-long dream that [Dawn] achieved. She loved her job, and she loved her animals…. While we understand that this tragic event is capturing headlines across the country, at this time, our family needs space and privacy to absorb our loss,” her family wrote. Brancheau drowned Wednesday afternoon after being pulled into the tank at Shamu Stadium by a 12,000-pound whale named Tilikum. According to the Orlando Sentinel, about two dozen spectators witnessed the attack, after which Brancheau was pronounced dead at the scene.
SeaWorld will hold a briefing on Brancheau’s death at 1 p.m. It will stream live on CNN.
At the end of the day, they are still wild animals. Her death is tragic, but that’s the risk of working with live, wild animals.
Agreed why people are surprised when stuff like this happens is beyond me. Tragic as it is, she had to know there was a chance it could turn on her at some point.
i agree lisa. it’s called a killer whale for a reason. poor thing probably wouldn’t be able to survive in the wild after being kept in captivity for so long. it is sad that someone died but lisa is right.
When will people stop treating wild animals like they are some trusted friend. K I L L E R W H A L E. Get it people….KILLER. Its their own stupid faults, leave these animals in the wild where they belong instead of trying to make pets out of them.
Yes, they know that they should be a little more cautious around these huge animals, but let’s not forget that someone died, let’s respect her and what she did, and not call people like her stupid.
I want to tell the EW community that people posting under the “Nshi” name are going way too far. I regret every having posted to these boards for what these imposters have been saying. I really am sorry that I started something so stupid.
Killer whale didn’t go crazy…killer whale went killer whale!
maybe it’s not appropriate to laugh at that comment but LOL. So true.
Actually this is the third person that this whale has killed since the early 90′s, so technically it’s a serial killer whale.
Cute! But the first “murder” was a man who broke into Sea World and went into the tank with Tilly. I call that shear stupidity.
True dat Jen.
It wasn’t ask to be there, it was taking there with human deciding that choice for him and it is still a wild killer whale with or without training. I feel for the family and the whale,both did a great job and porformance in the act. We are humans not a animal with different thoughts,life and ways of living. It is for are enjoyment not there’s.
I went to high school with Dawn. She was a bubbly, beautiful person. may she rest in peace.
I went to school with her too.
I am so sure you didn’t .
Personally, I hate hate hate Sea World and zoos. But I only feel sadness for what happened to Dawn. I just hate the whole situation.
This statement in general bothers me, it would seem you don’t know the real purpose of places like these (zoos/animal parks) When left to their own masinations (and those of thoughtless money hungry humans that are often breaking laws) these animals have greatly decreased in number, the goal of animal parks, zoos etc is to help the species generally from becoming extinct. Yes there are obviously those animals that don’t make it back to the wild, but a lot of their progeny does. They do put them on display to a point, but that is largely so they have the money to help the animals in the first place. The goal is to rehabilitate the species, not any one particular animal. Nobody gets into this business b/c they care solely about profit, most peoples lives are worth more to them than that. I’m so sorry for the family and what they’ve lost, but they must take comfort in knowing she was doing something she dreamed about for ages.
As tragic as this is,anytime your out there with a killer whale ,there is always a high amount of risk.The thing is that this Whale has killed before,andis still allowed to do shows.
That’s the extreme risks one takes when doing such a job, but it is sad she lost her life but precautions need to be taken to protect the trainers from here on out. They’re called killer whales for a reason.
Any living thing confined to a bathtup (but meant to be in the ocean) would eventually “snap”! Stop the madness!
They need to set all the Shamus free. That whale doesn’t deserve to die …it’s being held in a habitat that isn’t natural for a whale. I don’t believe in any animals being held for entertainment. Turn the tables and relook at the picture.
I question how one can claim to love these animals so much and yet participate in thier captivity in such a horrible way?
I think the hubris is astounding.
I agree!
WELL SHE KNOW WHAT JOB SHE HAD AND ALSO KNEWWWW THAT THE KILLER WHALE AS KILLED BEFORE SO I SAY ITS NOT THE DAMN WHALE FAUGHT ITS THE DAMN OWNER FAUGHT………
The whole situation is tragic- whales/animals being used as entertainment and Dawn’s death. I agree, stop the madness…
I know it is very sad and unfortunate for this trainers death but you really cant put the whales at fault. so many attacks by such creatures can be expected and as a result, we humans need to see the wrong of keeping these animals in captivity.
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