On this day in vegan history · January 6, 2017
Tilikum, the Orca of Blackfish, Dies at SeaWorld
The orca captured off Iceland as a calf, blamed for three human deaths, and turned into the face of the case against captivity by one documentary, died in the same tank that made him famous.
The facts
- Captured
- November 1983, by purse-seine net at Berufjörður, eastern Iceland, at age two
- Human deaths linked to him
- Keltie Byrne (1991), Daniel Dukes (1999), Dawn Brancheau (2010)
- Died
- January 6, 2017, at SeaWorld Orlando, of a bacterial infection, at age 35
- Offspring
- Sired 21 calves over his life in captivity
Tilikum was captured off Iceland in November 1983, a two-year-old orca taken by purse-seine net and shipped into a marine park circuit that had no real idea what three decades in concrete tanks would do to him. He lived first at Sealand of the Pacific in British Columbia, then at SeaWorld Orlando, where he sired 21 calves and became the park's most famous performer. He was also linked to the deaths of three people: trainer Keltie Byrne in 1991, trespasser Daniel Dukes in 1999, and trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010. The 2013 documentary Blackfish made him the face of the argument against keeping orcas in captivity, and SeaWorld's attendance and stock both fell in the years that followed. He died at SeaWorld Orlando on January 6, 2017, of a bacterial infection, at 35.
In their words
The day in the words of the people who were there. Every quote is verbatim, and every source links out so you can check it.
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They never had a plaything in the pool that was so interactive.
Steve Huxter, head of animal training at Sealand of the Pacific, on Tilikum's early years there
Source: Wikipedia -
Tilikum had, and will continue to have, a special place in the hearts of the SeaWorld family, as well as the millions of people all over the world that he inspired.
Joel Manby, President and CEO of SeaWorld, in the company's statement announcing Tilikum's death, January 6, 2017
Source: ClickOrlando (WKMG)
Why it still matters
SeaWorld had already announced the year before that it would end its captive orca breeding program, closing the door on any more whales born into the life Tilikum lived. Blackfish didn't end captivity by itself, but it put the industry's numbers in front of the public, and the public stopped buying tickets.
Sources
This history is still being written.
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