Blackfish tells the story of Tilikum, a 12,000lb performing bull orca at SeaWorld in Florida that has killed three people including his trainer during a show at the Orlando resort in 2010.
Having initially ignored the documentary when it premiered at the Sundance film festival earlier this year, SeaWorld went on the offensive last week following the nationwide US release and denied claims made in the film that their policy of keeping Tilikum in captivity led to the deaths.
The bull orca was captured off the coast of Iceland in 1983 and moved to SeaWorld in 1992 shortly after his involvement in the death of trainer Keltie Byrne at Sealand of the Pacific. That resort soon closed. In 1999, 27-year-old Daniel Dukes was found dead and nude, draped over Tilikum’s back. He had stayed until SeaWorld closed for the evening, evaded security and managed to get into the tank.
Dawn Brancheau’s death, witnessed by dozens who had paid to see the 40-year-old trainer’s show, inspired director Gabriela Cowperthwaite to investigate the effect captivity has on orcas. Her film has led SeaWorld to defend its practice of keeping performing killer whales, or blackfish as they are less commonly known.
SeaWorld first claimed the 40-year-old trainer had slipped and fallen, later changing its mind to say Tilikum must have thought Brancheau’s ponytail was a fish or a toy, which caused her to be dragged to the bottom of the tank.
SeaWorld said in a statement: “Tilikum did not attack Dawn. All evidence indicates that Tilikum became interested in the novelty of Dawn’s ponytail in his environment and, as a result, he grabbed it and pulled her into the water.”
SEE CHART OF SEA WORLD STOCK SINCE THE FILM CAME OUT ->http://i100.independent.c...
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- August 15, 2014 3:42 am
