After death of SeaWorld trainer, protesters shout ‘Free Tilly’
What’s been described as terror at SeaWorld has protesters shouting ‘Free Tilly!’ The 12,300 pound killer whale stunned the world when he grabbed his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, by her ponytail, thrashed her violently, and plunged her into the waters to her death as helpless onlookers and co-workers watched. Critics of the park say that Dawn didn’t have to die and they emphatically state that another death is not only possible, but is definite.
Tilikum, known as Tilly, is responsible for three deaths.
Some experts have suggested that Tilikum attacked his trainer due to stress, pressure, and hormones. Critics point out that Tilikum has been confined to a tank for the past twenty-eight years, swimming in a tank the equivalent of a bathtub. Unlike some of SeaWorld’s killer whales, Tilikum was not born into captivity but was captured from the wild.
- Photos: Dawn Brancheau Funeral
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Protesters Shout 'Free Tilly'
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Sign Guestbook for Dawn Brancheau
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Video shows Tilly and Dawn Brancheau
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Dawn Brancheau: Autopsy Results
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Slideshow: SeaWorld trainer killed by Orca
President of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk spoke to the media and said that it’s time to close SeaWorld. PETA isn’t alone in their sentiment. Social networking sites have boldly proclaimed their wish to see the theme parks close, or at least to see the killer whales returned to the wild.
During a press conference today, SeaWorld President Jim Atchinson said the killer whales will remain at Sea World, including Tilly. There is an investigation underway and trainers will not be allowed in the water with killer whales during performances. This is a temporary move, and according to Atchinson, trainers will go back in the water when they feel it is safe.
SeaWorld’s critics state that time is never.
What do you think? Is it time to 'Free Tilly?'
Photo taken during live streaming SeaWorld Press Conference by Charisse Van Horn
Comments
How dare we think Tilly is having a jolly good time,get real folks. How would you like to live in a closet 24/7?
Please let Tilly be free to do what God make him for.
Not a show anima. Put a brain on it and stop thinking of profits.
Boycott Sea World!!!!
Killing 3 people is nothing compared to the number of what us humans that killed whales.
Free Tilly!!!!
I also believe this whale should not be in captivity, however I question if she could live in the open ocean. She's been in captivity a long time. If it is possible for her to live in the wild.....she needs to be let go and no other whales, porpoises or dolphins should be taken from their homes and trained for human entertainment.
Sure...because that worked so well the last time. Anyone remember Keiko??? He was a collected animal who lived long-term in a marine park. He was also the star of that damned move 'Free Willy.' They bowed to the animal rights groups then and "freed" Keiko. But does anyone remember what happened next? Keiko was unable to fend for himself, got sick, and DIED. No. These animals are very well cared for at SW - this was a freak event. Tilly was NOT as directly responsible for the other two deaths as the media makes it sound, either. One guy was a nutjob and jumped in and died of hypothermia, the other person was not killed by Tilly, but by another animal in the same pool...from what I've heard by people who are 'in the know.' Dawn would not want anything to harm Tilly either, I would think. She loved those animals.
Why is it that humans "know" so much about other animals' well-being? Pay for a wild whale-watching adventure. See them in their native habitat. We're capturing them from the wild and keeping them in very small enclosures. The whales "perform" for food and praise - some prefer the food and others prefer the praise. But we as humans need to drop the arrogance and let them be. It's nothing but a money trail right to the whale's small captivity tank. The research which proves the high intelligence level of these animals should also be proof enough that we have no right to keep them hostage for our own selfish reasons. Again, I ask...who are we to think we know what's best for them. It's unfortunate about Dawn and condolences to her family and friends - however, maybe this is just the opportunity to have a real dialogue about these animals and our continued exploitation of them.
Why am I wasting my time reading these comments to "Free Tilly" Do everyone a favor and educate yourself before posting a comment that has no knowledge behind it! I agree with Amy! You cannot free an animal that has lived in captivity. This is a death sentence! These animals receive physical exercise, mental stimulation and top notch medical care. Because of these theme parks, we now have The Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is a very sad tragedy of what happened with Dawn. I did not know her, but I bet she would not have changed her career even if she knew what would happen on that sad day. The joys of working with these animals out weigh the risks. My thoughts and prayers go out to Dawns family.
For those out there that think Tilly and others like him should be free, you should think before you speak. You people say that you want what is best for the animal but that is not release. Release is a death sentence. Would you rather have all of these animals die than to be loved by the people that surround them?hey are truly that, loved by their caretakers. Seriously, how many of you sit in your homes and enjoys the comforts of life? What if I busted up into your home in the middle of the night and said, "Go, be free" and I led you in the middle of the wilderness and left you there? How many of you would endure it well? As Susan said, this animal would suffer the same fate as Keiko. Do me a favor, if you care so much about the animals, take the time you spent writing ignorant comments and clean up some trash along the roadside or put that time towards some conservation efforts.
HARPOON TILLY... and make him into cat food!
Interesting to me that one says "how arrogant of people to think they know what is best for the animal" referring to the keep them in captivity mentality, yet purpotes to know what is best byt say "freedon is best". turn your dog out in the wild and see if a "homeward bound" really happens. I believe capturing wild animals for zoos or sea worlds is wrong. However, for those born to this life, they ma very well not know how to survive in what would be a "natural" setting (for them a foreign country). Also, Tilly is a HE not a she (not that it matters except for validity of the rest of the claims). AND Tilly was a wild caught whale not one born in captivity so perhaps his needs would be better fitted by being turned back out; however, as I am NOT a whale mind reader or expert nor do I know how long he has been captive I decline to pass judgement on any - sea world or PETA. Oh, and the trainer WAS NOT IN the h2o with Tilly but was pulled in.
As always with PETA, I wonder how many have themselves or have family members who have benefited from medical attention that came about from research in which animals were used? Asprin? Cancer? And how knowledgable are they that many of the animals in question would never even have been born except for the need to learn from them? And would they be willing to fight the ACLU to allow human subjects (lifers in prison) to be used for research to "save" the animals? Just a side rant
Sea World has been downplaying this horrible incident, "The trainer slipped, she shouldn't have shook her pony tail, Tilly only killed 2 people, not 3!" Oh, my God!!! Thank God that bystanders got this on tape - to prove that this whale KILLED
a person. Why do we insist on making wild animals do stupid tricks for our enjoyment???
I don't think Tilly could ever survive in the wild. For a start, his ex-trainer says that all his teeth were broken against the gate that at one time separated him from the other whales. He is doomed to a life of solitary imprisonment, stress, and frustration.
The sad reality is that all or most captive orcas may not be rehabitable and are therefore condemned to spend the rest of their lives confined in their bare cells, never allowed to swim or hunt as they evolved to do, denied all natural activities and healthy social interactions, blasted with sounds so loud they must be torment for animals whose hearing is so acute, deprived of food to "train" them to perform, and so on.
What is truly appalling is that it will not end with the current victims. We will continue to capture wild born animals and continue to breed them in captivity, perpetuating this abuse for the sake of .....what?........entertainment! What a shallow reason to support such cruelty.
I think they should be in captivity. Because of the amount of time they lived in captivity and even for the captive born orcas. They wont survive. Sea World has so much care for them. And if Dawn was alive she would be very upset with the comments people are making about Tilikum. Dawn loved the whales very much throughout all marine mammal parks and would NEVER what anything to happen to them
I think people who want to "FREE TILLY" should grow up and use common sense. Wolves lived out in the mountains... yet domesticated dogs try to break a leash and chase a cat.
HUGE difference. Yes the Orca Tilly was captured.. he is set aside from the rest who were born in captivity. I do agree. However has anyone been to the Miami Aquarium???
They have ONEORCA and he's ALL ALONE in aso caled bath tub...
s wy dont you use your knowledge and common sense and try t help THATone at leat get to Seaworld?
@Anita - you seem to have little sense, all those people who shout "free tilly" happen to be the the ones with common sense, people like you should grow up, man shouldn't play god, I've said that before and I'll say it again.
Free this whale we do not need other victims just to see our kids happy.
I have lived here in Orlando, Florida all my life. I have been to Sea World only as a young child and now an adult and can choose to go there or not. My chose is NOT!!. I also grew up in the same neighborhood where one was a whale trainer and now at the present time is the Pres. of Animal Training, Chuck Tompson. I remember watching him do tricks with the killer whales and even got a chance as a young child to go back stage with my family to see the killer whale up close. I know that Sea World does the best for their care and they believe that keeping them there is for educational purposes. However now that I am older, I feel some what upset. I think that money is all the mighty reason we keep them there, any wild animal in fact.... is for money, not eduaction. I feel that the time is here. Although I do believe that the ones that were raised or captured from the wild should remain in Sea Worlds enviroment, but a huge BUT....I think it is time to stop breeding the whales there and no more rescues from the wild to bring them there to captivity. I feel it is cruel and against every fiber in my being to keep anything against its will and keep from living their lives in freedom. I have not been to Sea World in over 18 years...I will keep it that way. I am only one voice and maybe only one view, but I WILL BE HEARD!!!! STOP WHALEINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG for MONEY!!!!!!!!!
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