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SeaWorld killer whale 'can stay' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The killer whale that attacked and drowned its trainer will remain at the Florida marine park where the incident happened, officials said. | The killer whale that attacked and drowned its trainer will remain at the Florida marine park where the incident happened, officials said. |
SeaWorld said its staff would continue to interact with the whale, named Tilikum, despite calls to release or destroy it. | SeaWorld said its staff would continue to interact with the whale, named Tilikum, despite calls to release or destroy it. |
Trainer Dawn Brancheau, 40, died after the orca grabbed her from a poolside platform and dragged her underwater. | Trainer Dawn Brancheau, 40, died after the orca grabbed her from a poolside platform and dragged her underwater. |
The Orlando park added that it would be reviewing its safety procedures. | |
It said that in the meantime it was suspending all orca shows. | It said that in the meantime it was suspending all orca shows. |
"We're going to make any changes we have to, to make sure this doesn't happen again," said Chuck Tompkins, chief of animal training at SeaWorld parks. | "We're going to make any changes we have to, to make sure this doesn't happen again," said Chuck Tompkins, chief of animal training at SeaWorld parks. |
He said Tilikum would not survive in the wild because it has been captive for so long. | He said Tilikum would not survive in the wild because it has been captive for so long. |
He added that destroying the whale was not an option because it was an important part of the breeding program at SeaWorld and a companion to seven other whales there. | He added that destroying the whale was not an option because it was an important part of the breeding program at SeaWorld and a companion to seven other whales there. |
Horrified onlookers | Horrified onlookers |
Tilikum - who weighs five tonnes - was also reportedly involved in the death of a female trainer in Canada in 1991. | Tilikum - who weighs five tonnes - was also reportedly involved in the death of a female trainer in Canada in 1991. |
Other orcas were also said to have attacked trainers at SeaWorld parks in 2006 and 2004. | Other orcas were also said to have attacked trainers at SeaWorld parks in 2006 and 2004. |
The attack happened on Wednesday in front of horrified onlookers at the end of a show. | The attack happened on Wednesday in front of horrified onlookers at the end of a show. |
SeaWorld said it is reviewing the way its trainers work with whales | SeaWorld said it is reviewing the way its trainers work with whales |
Witness Sue Nichols, 67, said Ms Brancheau was petting the whale and talking to him. | Witness Sue Nichols, 67, said Ms Brancheau was petting the whale and talking to him. |
"Then all of a sudden he just reached up. He got her in the water, and he took her underwater, and he had her under for quite a while," she said. | "Then all of a sudden he just reached up. He got her in the water, and he took her underwater, and he had her under for quite a while," she said. |
"He came up out of the water, and he had her in his mouth." | "He came up out of the water, and he had her in his mouth." |
She said an alarm sounded and park employees scattered around the pool with a net as audience members were rushed away. | She said an alarm sounded and park employees scattered around the pool with a net as audience members were rushed away. |
On Thursday, Ms Brancheau's sister, Diane Gross, said her family was in shock. | On Thursday, Ms Brancheau's sister, Diane Gross, said her family was in shock. |
She said her sister had loved the whales as though they were her children. | She said her sister had loved the whales as though they were her children. |
"She loved all of them," Ms Gross said, according to the Associated Press. | "She loved all of them," Ms Gross said, according to the Associated Press. |
"They all had personalities, good days and bad days." | "They all had personalities, good days and bad days." |
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