Animal Dynamics

A 30-year-old killer whale, Tilikum killed his trainer Dawn Brancheau in a freak occurrence that animal behaviorists are unable to explain. Tilikum had been associated with two prior deaths: in 1991 a female trainer lost her balance and fell into the pool with Tilikum and two other killer whales in Victoria, British Columbia and in 1999 a man who snuck past Seaworld security and was found dead in the pool.

Witnesses to the attack describe Tilikum grabbing Dawn by the arm and shaking her underwater as he swam quickly around the pool. Steve McCulloch, a marine mammal expert at Florida Atlantic University cautioned the whale may have been playing, but it is too early to tell.

Veterinary behaviorist Dr Valarie Tynes says trainers who work these animals are aware of the danger, but their professional skills and training help minimize the the risks. Killer whales are still wild animals and all wild animals can be unpredictable. Tilikum weighs 12,000 pounds, the equivalent of 6 cars. Even a casual brush could be devastating.

A tragedy such as this event is a rare occurrence and unlikely to surprise any experienced trainer who works with these animals. A bite by a killer whale is a serious event. More familiar to the average pet owner, a bite by a Pit Bull is more serious than a bite by a chihuahua. In fact, toy breeds are probably MORE likely to bite but eh consequences of those bites are less severe.

Bookmark www.PetDocsOnCall.com as a great resource for accurate and trustworthy pet health information.