Seeing is Believing: Tilikum’s Lonely Life after Dawn.
Since the death of animal trainer, Dawn Brancheau, at SeaWorld Orlando in February, the marine mammal park’s officials have maintained that Tilikum, the killer whale involved in her death, continues to live a rather stimulating life. From the SeaWorld Parks Blog: “Tilikum’s day continues to be filled with variety and stimulation, including time with other whales, participating in training, husbandry, exercise and playtime sessions and the opportunity to breed.”Many have questioned if SeaWorld is indeed providing quality “care” for Tilikum (aka, Tilly or Tili) and if he continues to lead an enriching life in captivity as new rules were imposed which limits his interaction with trainers and the other orcas. There has been deep concern for how his reported isolation may affect the well-being of this intelligent, social animal. After two full days observing Tilly and his caretakers, one woman tells her story of what she saw. Is SeaWorld living up to its claims?
On February 24th, 2010 – at SeaWorld in Orlando Florida, a captive Orca (Killer Whale) named, Tilikum, brutally killed his longtime trainer, Dawn Brancheau. Ever since that fateful day the question keeps coming up; what will SeaWorld do to enrich this orca’s life and make his time there meaningful and worthwhile?
Orcas are held captive at facilities in North and South America, Europe and Japan, providing entertainment for theme park visitors. Currently there are 42 in captivity worldwide. SeaWorld and its chain of marine mammal parks in the United States is the largest owner of captive orcas in the world. In fact, they own more than half. Currently they have an inventory of 19 Killer Whales who are dispersed and or moved around between parks in Orlando, FL, San Antonio, TX, (6) and San Diego, CA (6). At this time, 7 of them are housed at SeaWorld in Orlando. SeaWorld also has 4 Killer whales “on loan” to Loro Parque in Tenerife, as well a new baby, bringing the total to 24 that SeaWorld owns world-wide.
Tilikum is the largest male orca on record in captivity weighing in at 12,500 pounds (5,600 KG) and reaching a little over 22 feet in length (6.9 Meters). He was captured near Iceland in November of 1983 at about two years of age and sent to live at Sealand of the Pacific in B.C., Canada. He was obtained by SeaWorld and moved to Orlando to become their prize stud in January of 1992 after he killed a female trainer who fell in the water in 1991. In 1999, Tilikum was involved in the death of a man who stayed in the park after hours and was found dead in the pool the next morning. This latest incident with killing his longtime trainer, Dawn Brancheau, brings Tilikum to a total of 3 deaths which are linked to him.
*As a sidenote; there have never been any recorded deaths of humans by Killer Whales in the wild to this day.
Since the brutal and untimely death of Dawn Brancheau, SeaWorld has kept Tilikum out of the show “Believe” where he was the star of the “Splash” segment. One of his primary jobs at SeaWorld is (was) to come out towards the end of the show and spray the first 15 rows with water as he circled the pool. His other job there is to provide semen through mating or Artificial Insemination (AI) for the breeding program that continues today.
For the past 6 months (now 11), while SeaWorld conducts their own internal review, they have completely kept him from doing his segment in Believe. Considering OSHA handed down their report along with citations of “willful” negligence to the safety of their trainers on August 24th, it begs the questions: what does he do with his time? Why does SeaWorld hold on to him verses retiring him to a sea pen? What are they planning on doing with him in the future? And now that trainers are not allowed to come into contact with him, even at the water’s edge without a barrier, what does he do for stimulation? There are so many questions, so I went to see for myself what his days are like. (It should be noted that since this story was written in September, I have gone back to see Tilikum regularily. His condition and ‘lifestyle’ has not changed. As of January 20th – Tilikum has been kept in isolation for 330 days, and counting.) Read on.
When we arrived the first thing in the morning on day 1, Tilikum was alone in the back pool (E pool) which has a covered awning. The 6 other whales were spread out between the two front pools (B and C). When the gates are opened, they are able to continue on into the F pool and proceed directly into the Dining with Shamu pool (G pool). This area has 3 underwater viewing windows in which guests of the park can view them when they swim by.
SeaWorld in Orlando has 7 pools in all, A – G. The section where “Believe” takes place is referred to as the “A” pool. D pool is a medical pool with a false bottom. Kalina ( who died suddenly and unexpectedly on Oct 4), Kayla, Trua, Katina – (who gavebirth on Oct 9, 2010 ), Malia and Nalani (two small females) were relatively free to move around the Dine with Shamu pool and back into the F, C and B pools. Tilikum, however, was kept gated in E pool by himself. Yet, the workers I spoke with say they are all (including Tilikum) moved around throughout the day and are free to come and go as they please. This is simply not true. Tilikum was never able to come and go as he pleased.
Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) separation is prohibited per 9CFR, section 3.109 – Separation.
Marine mammals, whenever known to be primarily social in the wild, must be housed in their primary enclosure with at least one compatible animal of the same or biologically related species, except when the attending veterinarian, in consultation with the husbandry/training staff, determines that such housing is not in the best interest of the marine mammal’s health or well-being. However, marine mammals that are not compatible must not be housed in the same enclosure. Marine mammals must not be housed near other animals that cause them unreasonable stress or discomfort or interfere with their good health. Animals housed separately must have a written plan, approved by the attending veterinarian, developed in consultation with the husbandry/training staff, that includes the justification for the length of time the animal will be kept separated or isolated, information on the type and frequency of enrichment and interaction, if appropriate, and provisions for periodic review of the plan by the attending veterinarian. Marine mammals that are separated for nonmedical purposes must be held in facilities that meet minimum space requirements as outlined in §3.104.
When the workers at the window told me (no less than 6 of them I spoke with) that they keep him away from the females at times because, “You know how frisky males can be.” I answered with, “Well then why not use birth control?” They said that, in SeaWorld’s opinion, it may mess with their brains.” These are answers that all of the workers at the DWS windows are telling people. I found it baffling because birth control is something that SeaWorld has absolutely used with their orcas in the past.
Tilikum showing his teeth in the viewing window
We watched the first show on day 1 which starts at 12:30 pm. They open the stadium approximately 45 minutes before the show. Trainers came by at noon to hose Tilikum down for about 3 minutes and after that gave him some fish. They then rinsed out his mouth which is a necessary part of his daily routine because most of his teeth have been > manually drilled and are all but gone. <(See link.) The trainers spent no more than 7 minutes total with Tilikum before getting ready for the show to begin.
Tilikum swam in slow circles or surface rested in the E pool and did so the entire show. At the time when the others were out having fun interacting with their trainers, he’s secluded off as though he is some outcast, and, without so much as a toy to play with. In the afternoon on the first day, the trainers brought a few of the whales to the F pool to have a training session. Tilikum was still alone in the E pool.
When waiting in the stands for the second show of day 1 to begin and watching Tilikum, I saw him being moved from the E pool to the Dining with Shamu pool (at 6 pm) and quickly left the show and went straight over to see him up close through the viewing windows. When he arrived to the pool he was given some minnow sized fish and, lucky for him, one of them had landed on the bottom. He came up to the window (showed his mouth – photo above) and then went down and picked up the little fish and swam around the tank in a circle with it in the tip of his mouth. It was as though it was his little toy and amusement for the time. After 30 minutes, it finally fell apart, he lost interest, and let it go. We stayed there until closing at 7:10 pm.
Coming back early the next morning and seeing Tilikum in the same pool all by himself was quite startling. He was simply logging (bobbing) listlessly and did so for nearly 3 and a half hours. He has nothing else to do but bob in the water. Here at the Dining with Shamu pool viewing window, there are employees who are stationed in one hour intervals in order to answer guest questions. When I asked the workers, “Why doesn’t he have any toys or something to play with?” – all four of them gave similar answers, such as: “We don’t want him to get bored with a certain toy so we change it up now and then.” Or, “For enrichment purposes they don’t want him to get too used to playing with the same things so they change his ‘routine’ often.” Shocking and disturbing answer.
When I told the workers as I watched him “napping” for over 3 hours that this type of behavior isn’t typical in the wild, they argued that it was. I said, “Not really because, orcas don’t normally sleep by themselves. In the wild they get close to their pod mates (Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins), synchronize their breathing, keep moving, and still dive – unlike Tilikum here who is vertical and bobbing in the water.” The answer they gave to this was attributed to the fact that he is an Icelandic “transient”, therefore implying that transients are drifters and spend time alone. Of course I said, “That is not true, transient means they typically feed off other mammals such as seals and dolphins versus “residents” who are fish eaters.” Another point is – no one knows for sure if Tilikum was a transient or a resident when he was captured. Either way – both transient and residents stay together in matriarchal pods and have close family bonds for life. In fact, if he had never been captured from the wild, he’d be swimming next to his Mom at this very moment. Something that Tilikum doesn’t have in this artificial setting at SeaWorld – a family pod. Sadly, it is quite clear he is kept completely alone, something that would never happen in the wild.
Again, the thing that really bothered me was the fact that Tilikum did not have one toy in his pool – and since he is kept there alone – it would have been nice to see him at least playing with something. That said, I did not sleep over night in the park but, at a time when SeaWorld is under a microscope due to the penalties handed down recently by OSHA, you would think that during the day when the trainers are there and people (guests) are watching – they would do something more with and for him. I stayed at the pool and watched him from the first thing in the morning, until closing time. He did not have one toy, therefore, barely moved.
Tilikum unprotected from the blazing Florida sun
Also, in the morning of day 2 – (where he wound up staying by himself again until 6 pm when they moved him back to the E pool) – it is clear SeaWorld is also in violation of another AWA regulation about leaving a marine mammal under the elements without a shaded area for him to hide under in order to protect himself from the blazing Florida sunshine. E pool has a covered awning to protect the whales – Dining with Shamu pool, does not. He was there under the sun for no less than 10 hours.
AWA regulations state under 9CFR Section 3.103 (b). Facilities, outdoor. Shelter.
Natural or artificial shelter which is appropriate for the species concerned, when the local climatic conditions are taken into consideration, shall be provided for all marine mammals kept outdoors to afford them protection from the weather or from direct sunlight.
It also should be noted that Tilikum’s security guards are afforded shade in the form of an umbrella or covered awning.
As a person who has been monitoring the SeaWorld Orlando fan page of FaceBook over the past 6 months, what you are being told is happening with him by SeaWorld, and what is actually happening are two very different stories. When you ask SeaWorld, “What are you doing with Tilikum and what are his days like?”, they give you the same answer. “He is still interacting and socializing continually with the other whales, he gets just as much interaction, play, stimulation from the trainers and is doing very well.” – then they post this blog for reference. http://www.seaworldparksblog.com/explore/blog/update-tilikum
Here it says that “Tilikum is no exception”, however, he is an exception. He is now linked to 3 deaths and clearly has issues with a couple of the other females as they are dominant over him, don’t blend well socially, so therefore, they are separated. Taima – Tilikum’s old mate who in June of 2010 died due to complications while trying to give birth for the 4th time in her short 20 years of life – was Tilikum’s “best friend”. The two were often together and now that she is gone, he is utterly alone.
As an aside, MMIRs obtained from NMFS FOIA state that Taima died from Uterine Prolapse. Prolapse is caused by a stretching of the ligaments that support the pelvic organs, causing those organs to stretch and ‘drop down’. And that is caused by her being breed far too young and far too often. It took her nearly 24 hours of labor before she finally died. It must have been a horrible and painful for her. Moreover, they couldn’t do anything and, in fact, didn’t know what to do (obviously), which simply reinforces the point that they should not be breeding whales in captivity.
Trua (a male orca) and Tilikum are friendly, however, in the 2 days I watched them – they were not put together one time. In fact, Tilikum was alone from 9 am on the morning when we arrived, until 7 pm the on the second day.
After viewing Tili for nearly 10 hours – two days in a row – I witnessed him in total isolation from the others over the course of those 20 hours. The others were allowed to mingle with each other, however, Tilikum was not given that opportunity on those two days. Now, again, I did not sleep overnight at the park but, Tilikum arrived from the E pool to the Dining with Shamu pool on day 1 at 6 pm sharp. He was still there at 9:00 am the next morning on day 2. Did they put a companion in with him at 7:30 pm – and take them out before 9:00 am? He was in a slumber when we arrived on day 2 so, I highly doubt it.
One cannot help but wonder – as sentient, intelligent, and aware these great beings are – how does Tilikum feel these days? He is definitely not appearing to be enjoying his time whatsoever. He barely moved from 9 am in the morning on day 2, and simply rested all day long until it came time to be fed. Once at 1 pm, 3 pm and 6 pm when they came with a bucket of ice and a few fish in order to lure him to go through the gate back to E pool.
Tilikum continually peers through the gate to look at the others
If he wasn’t sitting completely still, he moved 20 or 30 feet to go back and forth to the gate to peer over at the other whales having a training session. At one point during the end of the first Believe show on day 2, he went to the gate of the Dining with Shamu pool and tried nibbling on it as though he wanted out. He surely hears the activity going on. Even I could hear the show and my primary sense is not acoustic as his is.
He has to wonder — why? Why is he secluded, basically ignored and given no outer stimulation from an inanimate object such as a big ball or giant frisbee? Where did Taima go? And why can’t I be in the show? It’s heart-breaking really. Any sentient being would go out of their mind in such a situation. If they thought that Tilikum was dangerous towards humans or on the receiving end of aggressive behavior by the other orcas in this false pod situation before; what will happen to this poor soul if they continue to keep him separated, isolated, ignored, neglected and without the constant stimulation he deserves?
What I saw was totally unexpected. To be perfectly honest, I really thought he would have been with at least one of the other whales, interacted more with the trainers, and least of all, be active of his own volition throughout the day. He was none of these things. The word that kept coming to my mind and out of my mouth as I sat there watching him without pause was — “pathetic”.
I truly hope that SeaWorld will do the right thing and start looking into donating him to a foundation that is ready, willing and able to give him a better life such as one in a coastal sea pen. He could surely learn how to feed on his own once again, and even if he does not, there are caring human beings who would be more than happy to take care of his needs for the rest of his days. To think that he has the potential to live for a few more decades, it would be a tragic waste of a beautiful life if he continues to languish in such mundane conditions. Here is a small video by Dr. Naomi Rose of the HSUS. The loneliest whale in the world, Tilikum.
It is time to retire this beauty and get him in a setting that nature intended.
~ By Colleen Gorman
As a sidenote: Since this was written, I have been back to the park on a regular basis to see Tilikum. He is still isolated and not much has changed in this poor soul’s life. They do not introduce him or even refer to him at the beginning of the Believe show as they do with the 6 others (including the new baby which arrived in October). By keeping the pressure on SeaWorld and the awareness on Tilikum, we hope that they will have the heart to start treating him like part of the family versus the black sheep.
To view more photos go to: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2057428&id=1175597100&l=4c41576fef
To view more videos go to my YouTube channel @ http://www.youtube.com/user/CgColleenGorman?feature=mhum
*To report violation of Animal Welfare Act:
USDA/APHIS/LPA
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 1147 South Building
Washington, DC 20250
E-mail: webmaster@aphis.usda.gov
Phone: (202) 720-2511
Trackbacks
- The Killer Whale's Guide to Captivity - The Gnoose
- The Killer Whale’s Guide to Captivity – The Gnoose
- The Killer Whale’s Guide to Captivity – The Gnoose
- From Paddock to Plate? – Georgia Rose Nelson
- Orca’s in Captivity – The Pocket Zoo
- SEAWORLD vs. BLACKFISH… What needs to be done? | PHOTOGRAPHY & BUSINESS
The Orca Project 
Based on all of the information that I have read and obtained Sea World neglected Tilikum after his trainers death. They illegally surcomvented laws pertaining to his interaction with other Orcas,of which there wasn’t any, they kept him in areas that were nit covered from sunlight for extended periods of time and totally neglected Tilikum. Sea World should definitely be held accountable for his untimely death. They used this poor animal for there in monetary greed and after the trainers death, Tilikum was given a death sentence by Sea World. I fir one will NEVER set foot in any of there parks because you just don’t treat animals like that.
I personally believe that we as humans are sick, how w would we feel if our babies were taken from us and held in tanks to perform for money and never see us again. I’m sure that God didn’t intend for his creatures to be treated like this
I think it was pretty sadly obvious what they were doing to Tilikum with the isolation and lack of stimulation or contact. SeaWorld was punishing him with a harsh life sentence of solitary confinement, meeting just the basic needs to keep him alive to suffer more. Considering they made him psychotic to begin with, that’s pretty sick on their part. I guess they figured if he was intelligent enough to be driven to psychosis by their inept cruelty and lash out in anger and frustration, he was intelligent enough to be made to feel their anger at his actions through their purposeful neglect.
If a person killed three people would we be concerned if they were provided toys and interaction and participation in the show?
So since you’re comparing Tilikum to a human being being in jail; what exactly did he do to deserve a lifetime of incarceration? You know, a life sentence of being in a concrete cell – without a chance for parole. This after he was abducted in broad daylight from his family as a toddler. What exactly is his crime to deserve such severe punishment? Forced to perform and not able to feel the freedom and rhythms of the ocean again. Never mind seeing his family on weekends, or ever again. Please, do tell what he did to deserve it.
As SeaWorld likely sees it he (1) murdered his trainer and, likely an even worse crime to their corporate office, he (2) did in front of a crowd of customers during a show and hurt their image and profit margin. Aside from likely being afraid of him, I don’t imagine the other trainers felt much sympathy for him after the trainer’s death. SeaWorld’s corporate office didn’t.
As SeaWorld likely sees it, he (1) murdered his trainer and (an even worse crime to their corporate office) he (2) did it in front of a crowd of paying customers during a show and hurt their image and profit margin.
Heartbreaking EVERYONE must stop visiting seaworld it’s the only way to put a end to this cruelty
I can only cry at this story. It is just so wrong to have done this to a magnificent sentient being.
Rest in Paradise tilli. Please let’s all join the fight to free Lolita
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How could they have done this?
Shut up idiot!
Seaworld needs to be shut-down. It is horrible the way they treat the whales. I will never visit seaworld again. Never
Poor Tilikum. Free at last. So so sad. I hope all responsible for the torture of this poor soul experience the same fate they gave to him come judgement day. RIP sweet Tilikum.
How would you like to be kept in a black hole and food dropped down, that is how Tilikum feels. Tilikum is a friendly name, not one of malice. he perhaps would have adhered to his name if he was not kept in captivity, He should be set free to live his life free
This can leave a person who cares about the whales feeling broken. Poor Tilly and all the animals in captivity. Sea World needs to end this sin against creation and show some mercy and make this all stop. I am very afraid that the only freedom Tilly will know is death. Stolen from the ocean and then a tank for his whole life is just wrong. I hope something happens to help Tilly and all that should be returned to the sea where they are meant to live their life.
He should be in captivity now that he killed 3 people. He should have been released after the first one.
pizzapietaco will eat u
Tilikum must have been lonley
I wish there was anything meaningful I could do at all … I am glad you went and sat with him from opening to closing time, maybe he didn’t know why, maybe it did or didn’t register … we don’t really know. I have been reading about this situation for a while and some of the things they all endure and have endured, it’s absolutely heartbreaking. I just cannot wrap my head around the kind of worldview which would allow a person to think that they are entitled to dole out needless destruction and endless torturous circumstances. I’m not saying I don’t feel sorry for the people who have died, and their families, because I do. It’s tragic that humanity could force such circumstances to occur and then blame the creatures in question, or the people who died. Despite the fact that they are apex predators they don’t hurt humans on purpose, it seems like common sense that if you torture and confine one, something bad will happen eventually. Poor Tili. I cannot even imagine what he must feel like. What goes through his head day after day. What he thinks, after having lost every creature that ever had a connection with him … I hope they did eventually let up on him, but that’s probably just wishful thinking. Look at the particular humans we’re talking about here.
We need to continue to put pressure on Sea World to release him. He could retire in a seapen and recover like Keiko did!
I am ashamed to say In 2007 I watched Tillikam Performing with Dawn and still have the pics 😦 But I was completely unaware of the truth behind sea world :-(. I looked through that glass pool straight in his eye and said “his soul is broken ”
Nearly 10 years on and that look still haunts me please, please keep campaigning for an ocean pen
PLEASE WATCH THE STORY OF KEIKO!
WATCH THE STORY OF KEIKO!
Please do the research before you make comments!
WE NEED TO FORCE SEA WORLD TO RELEASE TILIKUM. HE IS DYING ANYWAY SO LET HIM DIE IN THE OCEAN WHERE HE BELONGS. THE LONGER WE WAIT FOR SEA WORLD TO RELEASE HIM THE LONGER HE SUFFERS. WE CAN NOT TRUST THE VETS OR THE COMPANY WHO HAS TORTURED HIM FOR YEARS!
tilikum has spent his entire life in those pools don’t you think if he was released it would be worse?? Hes lost all his family and he doesn’t know how to Hunt. Sea world wouldn’t realise him no matter what because all the news about him dying is most likely getting hundreds if not thousands going to see him before he dies. I feel sick thinking people are watching them in these tanks thinking they enjoy this but it won’t be long before another death whether it’s a trainer or an orca, sea world need to stop breeding and capturing all see animals let them live their lives out and close down, but for as long as they can make money these creatures will suffer.
BEFORE I GIVE MY OPINION I DO THE RESEARCH I WILL SUGGEST YOU DO THE SAME WATCH THE STORY OF KEIKO THE WHALE THAT WAS IN THE MOVIE FREE WILLY. PERHAPS YOU MAY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WHALES CAN BE REHABILITATED AND HEALED FROM INFECTIONS THAT THEY GET FROM THE EVIL TANKS I CAN NOT CHANGE PEOPLE ALL I CAN DO IS PRAY THAT WE STOP DESTROYING GOD’S CREATIONS!
Watch the story of Keiko
I watched it and the keiko stayed near the shallow waters and died not to long after being released I’m not saying he shouldn’t be free but killer whales are social and can be alienated from pods the only ‘family’ Tilikum has got is the trainers at sea world whether we like it or not.
Kate they could transfer him to a Seapen I HAVE TRIED TO TELL PEOPLE THE TRUTH BUT I CAN NOT CHANGE PEOPLE BECKY BULLOCK ON OF THE PEOPLE SUPPORTING SEA WORLD AND TILIKUMS ABUSE JUST TOLD ME THAT GOD US NOT REAL THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT SEA WORLD THIS IS ABOUT GOOD AND EVIL.HE HAVE VERY EVIL PEOPLE BEHIND SEA WORLD!
Kate we just want him to be translated to a Seapen . There he can retire from slavery
I don’t support sea world and never have, I do understand that he should be free and I know about the sea pen and think they are a good idea but sea world don’t care and like I said he will never be free for as long as the media talk about sea world they will keep him their for extra money, it makes me physically sick I’ve seen orcas in the ocean and it’s amazing they are friendly and curious and ive never met an aggressive one yet so seeing tilikum in the pools is wrong they’ve forced him to breed and sold his offspring to the highest bidder and it’s sick, I do want him to be free as with all the killer whales but he has nothing left his only family is sea world.What makes me more sick is they make up lies and say their helping the orcas and they live longer in captivity, sea world plays God with lives both animals and humans.
Once upon a time there was a Giant called Goliad everyone was afraid of him! One day a short skinny brave boy outsmarted him and killed him. We can do this! We can be stronger than Sea World! GOOD IS STRONGER THAN EVIL!
Well said!
“a Giant called Goliad”
There was?
I’m on your side in this war against Sea World and those who profit from the torture and abuse of all animals but you might want to research that one better so it doesn’t give the haters ammunition…
I wanted to correct my spelling of the name of the giant. His name was Goliath. I am sorry I has spelled his name wrong but what we really need to learn from this story is that if we are with God we can win against evil!
If he really is such a ” sentient, intelligent, and aware [great being]”, then maybe he is remembering how he killed his trainer. You can think of him as a person, but that would mean he is a murderer… wouldn’t it.
THERE IS A REASON WHY HE KILLED HIS TRAINER I AM SURE YOU ARE JUST AS IGNORANT AS EVERYONE THAT HAS TORTURED HIM FOR YEARS!
Please do research before you comment. We need people to support Tilikum he has suffered enough!
dude, shut up. you’re ignorant as hell
To Galactic Ferry Service: you know I’ve been debating about whether or not to reply to your commend for a week now because this isn’t my website and I don’t understand this whole mentality people like you and the others have of sitting in judgement behind their computer screens and “bravely” typing nasty comments to people. But I feel compelled to finally respond and I am doing this respectfully: if you’ll allow me to use the analogy of a loaded gun here..,yes Tilikum was the one who fired the fatal bullets into the trainers but honestly Sea World, the park in Canada and those who literally viciously kidnapped Tilikum from his family in the sea are guilty too. They put a loaded gun and pulled back the trigger (or hammer? Not all familiar with guns) and put it in Tilikum’s hands (of course if he had any). You can not morally and ethically believe that any animal, especially an orca the size of Tilikum can survive and thrive healthily mentally and physically in the size of a bathtub fit decades. He was penned away by himself for a year as punishment after Dawn’s death and literally could not turn around! That is inhumanity defined! Any animal and human would lose their mind! And I personally believe Tilikum did just that. He was kidnapped, isolated and forced to perform tricks for “entertainment” by “human beings”. I, too, would go insane quickly. Their dorsal fins collapsing due to stress is proof! I am sorry the trainers lost their lives, please don’t think I am not. But so did Tilikum and countless orcas and their future offspring the minute they were kidnapped and enslaved.
I love killer whales. They are my favorite animals, and I don’t like to see them in situations that I wouldn’t like myself, but they are animals, not people. And yet you and many of the people commenting here insist on implying that Tilikum IS a person, deserving of HUMAN rights. That is why I am pointing out that there is a double standard. If you put that loaded gun in the hand of a poor kid from the hood and he goes out and kills someone with it (you can imagine all sorts of justifications here), he goes to jail for a significant portion of his adult life. It isn’t just murder either I mean we lock people up for drugs too. HUMANS just like you spend years CONFINED for all sorts of things, but here you are complaining that an ANIMAL, beautiful and intelligent, yes, but still not even close to equivalent to a human life.
Understand this: They are called “HUMAN RIGHTS” not because humans “deserve” them, but because humans have a social contract with each other to live in a civil society together. That is ALL it means. That is ALL it ever meant from the beginning when they came up with the idea during the enlightenment in Europe. When an animal is able to enter into such a contract of it’s own volition, then that animal can have rights that are shared by all other members of human society. But of course no animal will ever be able to do that.
Your HUMAN capacity for empathy towards other people has been misdirected towards something that is not like you. You may think you can imagine how Tilkum feels…. but you cant. You have no idea what it is like to be a killer whale, in captivity or otherwise. Don’t project your humanity onto them. And ABOVE ALL don’t equivocate on the value of human life.
Disgusting comment. No compassion. Are you even human? You are trying to justify evil acts against helpless trapped animals – pathetic and cruel.
Satan is a deceiver that is how he fools people. Don’t let Sea World fool you . I just had one of their supporters text me to tell me God is not real. We are dealing with very evil people!
Thank you for your kindhearted and selfless devotion to Tilikum. I’m sorry I didn’t find your page sooner and I’m sorry to Tili he has been forced to suffer such a cruel “life” at the hands of “humans”. I thought as “humans” we were supposed to be the “civilized” species? Yeah right. And now I read Tilikum is dying and my heart breaks even more for him and all the rest held against their will.
Thank you for your support. I just received an email from Becky Bullock A sea world supporter. She told me that God is not real that he is my imaginery friend! SHE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW EVIL SEA WORLD IS IT ENCOURAGES THIS TYPE OF EVIL PEOPLE TO GET AWAY WITH TORTURING AND KILLING THESE ANIMALS!
I’ve always felt this way every since I was a child. You’ve made enough money off of these beautiful creatures, now let them go…
I mean born I captivity
It is said that they r putting the orcas in the wild and the ones that r barn I captivity.😢
Its sad that sea world can do this and not even care, all the whales are broken they have no spirit everything that an orca is has been destroyed so people could have some entertainment, mankind has destroyed this planet and its devastating animals have been there in are time of need, helped us and we repay them with dressing them up and making them perform for our own sick needs. but what gets me more then anything is sea worlds trainers say the orca’s aren’t performing it’s ‘behaviors’ ARE YOU KIDDING ME? when do wild ocra’s jump from the water to touch balls or carry humans on their back, if i was taken from my family at 2 years old and made to live in a swimming pool i think i would go insane too. All the Orca’s should be free, but i don’t think whales like Tilikum would know how to survive in the ocean anymore so I’m torn as much as sea world should be out of business, they should stop entertaining the public and take care of these whales, be the whales saviors, build bigger pools and let them live the rest of their lives out trying to make them happier if they can’t, release them they have as much right as anyone to be on this planet.
I feel so broken for Tilikum. My heart is just completely broken. And I’m losing faith. This torture exploitation has gone on far TOO long. I’m afraid it will go on until he dies (God forbid). When will he be free and get the love freedom happiness he deserves?!! He is a pure soul thats been kidnapped taken away from his loved ones and tortured for MONEY. How can this go on in a country like America? I am thinking of Tilikum day and night. He is suffering. Not just him, the rest of the captive animals.
I agree! Ever since I watched blackfish I think about him day and night. While i’m at work, he’s alone in the pool. While i’m out with friends, he’s still in that pool. All the time while i’m living my life, he is just there in that pool. It is SO SAD that after ‘acting out’ and ‘attacking’ those people he realised this isnt going to change anything and that he has now just accepted that this is how his life is going to be. 😦 😦 my heart breaks too. We have to be there for him and sign the petition at freetilly.com and free tilikum!!!!!!! We owe it to him!
I can relate to you I have cried for days. I was almost raped when I was a child. I know how abuse and evilness feels. I know how Tili feels and I wish I could stop them from killing him
WE CAN NOT JUST SEAT AND WAIT FOR HIM TO DIE WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR HIM!
If you feel this strongly about a whale I can’t even imagine how much you must cry over all the HUMAN girls and boys that are victims of human trafficking and sexual slavery in America and all over the world.
I really think you should force words down others throats on some other site. This post is about ORCAS. TILIKUM. We are talking about the rights of these beautiful creatures. Not humans, but I’m sure there are more posts for that. The right of the living. Everything that breathes, all in the same boat. Orcas and Pilot Whales are the only other animal on this planet, asides humans, to go through menopause. Shouldn’t that make everything obvious? These are terrifingly intelligent creatures, I mean- orcas are probably more intelligent than most humans. They are such emotional animals, I applaud him for managing to keep his cool for 34 years in a tank that size and only killing 3 people. What with the 170+ orcas that were killed by humans (indirectly or directly), either in captivity, due to miscarriages or much too young mothers, or those who died being captured. How about we shove you in a bathtub from when you’re 2 until your death at 36. Oh and as a bonus, you’re in complete isolation for over 330 days. If it were me, I would’ve definitly killed someone eventually. And honestly by emphasising ‘human’.. I really can’t take you seriously. I value animals’ lives over a lot of nasty humans I’ve encountered,I would take a bullet for my cat a hundred times over if she would live. I’d give up my life on the spot if my other cat would’ve lived passed 2. These orcas deserve so much more. They don’t deserve to be treated by us. And I say us, because the governements around the world are fully aware, yet they do nothing. But there incredibly kind people that spend their whole lives fighting for these magnificent beasts. Not all humans are bad, in case you want to argue, but if you think for a second, that these incredible creatures’ lives are less valued than humans, you are 1 of the many people on this earth that prove humanity is falling apart.
It’s not hard to imagine how he would feel. Grow some compassion. Are you human? Ridiculously ignorant comment trying to justify evil acts against a trapped and helpless animal.
And really nobody even gave a shit about animals before this, just another thing to be offended by and attack, if it wasn’t for Seaworld these animals wouldn’t even be known or talked about , are any of you vets or doctors, marine biologist, then u have no opinion you can’t, all you can do is believe a movie of lies about everything Seawolrd is not , why don’t you people look into the great things Peta’s done look at the numbers they killed, you want to cry and a horror story look it up, you will see true scum bags at work…
You are a terriable person orcas brains are enlarged in the part where they feel emotion and think. It is larger and more complex than a humans thus they have more complex and deeper thoughts and emotions than us. AND THAT IS A FACT PROVEN BY NEUROSCIENTISTS. Also Tilikum was separated from his family at 2 years old and an orca stays with its mother for its entire life. Then Tilikum was sold to seal and where he was abused and viciously raked by the other whales. Because you’re a non empathetic idiot that means clawed down the side with their teeth. After that happened he was under Fed and beat up by other whales. Then Tilikum was sold to sea world where he was force to do 3-4 shows a day and limited to his tiny tank. Because you obviously don’t care enough to research orcas you should know they are thought to have 12 languages and each language is determined geographically so the whales probably couldn’t even communicate with each other. May e do some research next time before you insult an abused creature asshole.
Plus Mike peta doesn’t know what they’re talking about and I do and this is a real problem. Also it looks like you’re the one who needs to get a life bc you’re the one posting comments on the internet at 2:30 in the morning
Thank you for TELLING THE TRUTH!
There is no excuse for anyone to torture abuse and kill animals or people because as far as I am concern Sea World is responsible for the trainers death!
Lol its not real you people are a joke, just like everyone else, its on TV it got to be real, its fact lol get a life and care about something important like a president that started wars and killed American soldiers and everyone thinks he’s great, W……
Much has changed sense this experience you encountered. I have been the last two weekends to sea world Orlando. He came out during every show except for the night one. He did his normal splash routine but no trainers got near the water besides being on the ground throwing fish in. If you are watching the show and look to the back right you can see him in that tank waiting to come out. As he would swim back in another whale would go in with him. As soon as they both got in the tank and the gate was shut at least 3 or 4 trainers ran right over with buckets of fish to feed them both. They emptied both buckets because you could see them throwing the ice in the tank for them at the end. After the night show we spoke to a few workers who said they whales can actually swim in all pools at night. They said tili doesn’t come out with all of them but all of the others were allowed out. He did have a whale in his tank when all of this happened. The night before it was flip flopped. Tili was out in the main pool over night with one other whale while the others were kept separate.
This is a perfect example of how cruel people can be. How can the SeaWorld company live with themselves? Poor Tilikum has no friends and as I read the section of the article where the author describes how Tilikum constantly peers over at the other whales is truly heartbreaking. What is this if not an act of humanlike behaviour? Does this not show them that what they are doing is wrong? #FreeTilikum
Get a life, join peta u fit in, believe everything on TV and the news and vote for trump
Get an education you moron. People like you are the suckers that keep Sea World in business. Fat, ignorant burger eating, daytime tv watching dirtbags that can’t see past the end of their nose!
I am from Canada and just Watch Blackfish on CNN. Disturbing images that my 56 years old eyes had never seen. Specialy when they separated the Young calf from his mother.
How can human do something as cruel as that ? Seeing the poor mother crying her distress is really disturbing. FREE THEM ALL !
Money and corporate greed are the only reason they continu oparating.
Long time ago I stopped going at those parks, and I am spreading the word around me, but it’s not really working because everebody loves dolphins and want to ride with them.
Spread the word on you’re side, together we will succeed.
Keep believing everything on TV and the news lol its a joke the truth is out there if u bother to look it up, this is how media controls small minds look into leta if u want a horror story look up how many animals they kill there’s your scum bags
It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out Sea World is evil. It not what the media is feeding us is EVIDENCE! WHALES DYING AT SEA WORLD ALL THE TIME!DO THE RESEARCH BEFORE YOU MADE IGNORANT COMMENTS !
God bless you!
Thanks
Why humans are so cruel. The scums will pay for their sin soon either to see themselves suffering from cancer and slow painful death or see their own children die before their own deaths.
You retard get a life believe everything u see on TV and wish bad on others your a great human being u scum bag
Troll alert….
I wanted to correct my spelling of the name of the giant. His name was Goliath. I am sorry I has spelled his name wrong but what we really need to learn from this story is that if we are with God we can win against evil!
Omg I’m a 49 year old man that is crying as I read this. For gods sake, someone do something! Can we shut this down? It’s so wrong…so wrong….in so many ways. Someone tell me what I can do to help….
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It is 2015 and I am reading this for the first time. Has anything changed?
I visited Seaworld in January 2014 and the situation seemed to be the same. He didn’t appear during the show and when i asked about him they just told me he was chilling in one of the back pools. Later i went to the underwater view area but still no sign of him. The other orcas didn’t look any happier to be honest.
Tillkum needed to be helped properly , not isolated like that . Shame on you Seaworld……… May Tillikum haunt your soul forever………..