New Photos of Killer Whale involved in Trainer Death at SeaWorld
Tilikum slides across the shallow ledge as he begins the brutal death of Dawn Brancheau
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released new photos of Tilikum, the killer whale involved in the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau in February, 2010 at SeaWorld of Florida.
Through the Freedom of Information Act, The Orca Project has acquired 71 photos on file from OSHA’s investigation. Two of these photos were taken by a guest at the underwater viewing area during the moments as Tilikum pulled Mrs. Brancheau into the water.
Upon review and examination by former SeaWorld trainers, it is increasingly clear that Dawn was killed after being “barrel-rolled” by Tilikum after he initially grasped her arm as they drifted along the shallows of the Dine with Shamu pool.
The series of photos shown below (dubbed the “death roll”) depict the final seconds before Dawn was brutally killed after sustaining massive injuries in the attack. Photo #1 is the final frame of Dawn and Tilikum’s interaction as captured by the Connell family of New Hampshire. Photo #2 captures the moments as Dawn and Tilikum slide along the shallow slide-out area above the viewing widows. Photo #3 captures Tilikum rolling as he brings Dawn into the water.
Tilikum and Dawn Brancheau are depicicted in the final moments.
This tragic event was initially reported by SeaWorld and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office that the veteran trainer “slipped or fell” into the pool with the 12,000 lb orca. Those reports were quickly refuted as witnesses came forward. SeaWorld then ran with the “ponytail theory” in order to shift the focus and blame to Dawn herself.
During the September “OSHA vs. SeaWorld” hearings, trainer and spotter Jay Topoleski described under oath that Dawn’s hair flowed right into Tilikum’s mouth while performing a “layout mimic”, a move whereas the trainer and whale lay parallel to one another, on their backs, reaching out with one hand touching the whale’s pectoral fin.
No other eye-witness testimony describes this position, nor is it depicted in the Connell video or final photos taken from the underwater viewing area.
The Orca Project has investigated and reported on the facts surrounding the “ponytail theory” which SeaWorld has recently began to pull back from. All of the details containing eye-witness testimony can be found HERE.
SeaWorld and OSHA will be back in the courtroom next week in Sanford, Florida. In August 2010, SeaWorld was cited by OSHA for “willful” violations of trainer safety. You can follow the details of the court hearing by visiting www.theorcaproject.com and click on the “SeaWorld vs OSHA” tab. Additional photos which unveil SeaWorld’s unscrupulous practices can be see HERE. And be sure to follow us on FaceBook and Twitter for all the latest news and information.
The series of photos dont make any sense. dawn and the whale are facing one way (toward the upper right corner of uw viewing) then the underwater photos show the whale 20 feet to the left of that position, facing the opposite direction.
Amazing series of photos. Thank you TOP. Actually the photo series makes sense. Please note the acute angle of Tilikum’s body (less than 90 degrees) in regard to the ledge wall. That orientation is maintained when you shift from the above water perspective, to the below water perspective. Thanks for sheading light on this.
And actually, you make the assertion that photo one is a video capture from the end of the relationship session depicting Tilli with Dawn’s forearm in his mouth. Who made that determination? I kind of have to question the authenticity of the information contained in the photos.
Do not understand what has to be proven. Orka’s are wild animals and no pets. If you play with them you can be hurt or killed. Only one good solution to avoid such accidents: leave them in the oceans where they belong. When kept for 40 years in a small box: how would most people react against their ‘agressors?
It just shows how deliberate he was, he didn’t just playfully tug her into the water, it looks like he would have flipped her over, or maybe broke her arm right away?
WHALES, WILD ANIMALS ARE MEANT TO LIVE AND THRIVE IN THEIR NATURAL
HABITATS;….PERIOD.
UNLESS IT SOME SORT OF SANCTUARY FOR INJURED ANIMALS.
I WISH PEOPLE WOULD STOP VISITING THESE PARKS ! IT DISGUSTS ME AND
BREAKS MY HEART THAT ON THE WHOLE WE ARE STILL NOT ENLIGHTENED
ENOUGH TO REALIZE THAT.
71 Images released? Will you be publishing anymore?
Thank you for having the guts to show the truth.
Actually, it makes NO sense. The orientation of Dawn and Tilli at the time the attack occurred was facing to the right as you are looking out of the underwater viewing. In the two underwater views, he is facing back across the pool to the left more than 20 feet from where dawn was at the time. If you were to believe what you are trying to imply with these photos, he was violently grabbing her, taking her down in a barrel role and shifting his entire 12,000-lb body with out any bubbles, turbulence or anything. In fact, if you look where his head is facing in the two photos (and know anything about G pool) that’s actually right at the base of the scale, at least 20 or 30 feet to the left of where Dawn was laying with him in the slideout, to the extreme right of the window (at least that’s what the video purported as showing Dawn and Tili in their last moments shows.)
From the underwater perspective, she is facing to the right. He’s not near the scale, and I am familiar with G pool, and the scale, and the underwater viewing area. No one suggested a violent or turbulent grab. In all likelihood it was more of a relatively smooth roll over just to get her into the water.
Correct Ted, lets not leave out the fact that, according to the picture with Dawn and Tilly, Dawn’s “forearm was in his mouth”…i dont think anyone would be smiling if their arm was in a 6 ton animal’s mouth. once again, people can post whatever they want but unless they were there or know someone who was, they will never get an accurate account of what happened
I don t think Ted here the discussion is about photos unless that is more important than the fact that this Orca and SO WRONG CALLED KILLER WHALE is not where he belongs and that if the trainer was killed is because of Sea Worlds fault. This has to stop and Aquariums that held cetaceans prisoners should be closed, BOTTOM LINE. I do not cry her dead and I do not feel sorry for her, if she loved the whales so much she should have known that captivity is wrond and kills but she was part of it and made lots of money out of this poor sentient being.
More information regarding the horrific details are contained in this interview, as well as references to the culture of exploitation, and the consequences of captivity on the oral health of killer whales held in concrete and steel enclosures. http://youtu.be/hveQ3VRIlGQ
Don’t buy a ticket to a captive dolphin show or swim with captive dolphins! Dolphins should be free and left to live their lives in the wild.
Oh sure Dawn looks happy as Tili bites her arm… um… this doesn’t make sense. Her arm IS NOT in Tili’s mouth in that picture… I don’t know how you came up with that.