When was the last time an orca killed a trainer?

Tilikum pulled SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau into the water in 2010, killing her after a show at the theme park. In the wake of Brancheau's death, SeaWorld removed trainers from the water and implemented new safety procedures.



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On February 24, 2010, Tilikum killed Dawn Brancheau, a 40-year-old SeaWorld trainer. Brancheau was killed following a Dine with Shamu show. The veteran trainer was rubbing Tilikum as part of a post-show routine when the orca grabbed her by her ponytail and pulled her into the water.

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Following Brancheau's death, Tilikum stayed at the park until he died in 2017 from a lung infection.

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Shamu /?æmu?/ (unknown – August 16, 1971) was a female orca captured in October 1965 from a southern resident pod. She was sold to SeaWorld San Diego and became a star attraction. Shamu was the fourth orca ever captured, and the second female. She died in August 1971, after about six years of captivity.

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A SEAWORLD orca dubbed the saddest in the world has spent the last 48 years in a concrete tank losing all of her seven calves. Corky the killer whale was taken from her family in 1969 before eventually being moved to SeaWorld San Diego in 1987 and is believed to be the orca who has spent the longest in captivity.

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We do not support, condone, approve, or authorize activities that involve closely approaching, interacting, or attempting to interact with whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, and sea turtles in the wild. This includes attempting to swim with, pet, touch, or elicit a reaction from the animals.

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How many people did Tilikum kill?
  • Dawn Brancheau. Brancheau, who was a highly experienced orca trainer at Seaworld, had been feeding Tilikum fish near the end of the Dine with Shamu show and was on the edge of the pool rubbing the orcas head. ...
  • Keltie Byrne. ...
  • Daniel P.


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Tilikum was estimated to be about 36 years old at the time of his death. He was brought to SeaWorld after Canada's Sealand of the Pacific closed in 1992. He had been at the amusement park ever since.

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