Richard Ellis: Killer Whale Attack at SeaWorld Was Intentional

Posted on February 24, 2010

Dawn Brancheau, an experienced female trainer at Sea World Orlando, was fatally injured by a 12,000 bull Orca named Tilikum today. Tilikum is also linked to two other deaths.

Richard Ellis, an author, artist and marine conservationist with the American Museum of Natural History, believes the killer whale's actions at SeaWorld Orlando were intentional. He says killer whales are intelligent creatures that don't do things accidentally. He says this was not an "insane, uncontrollable act." He doesn't think Tilikum was trying to eat the trainer but he does think the whale decided to do this. Ellis also thinks the popularity of killer whales in capitvity is going to increase, not decrease, because of this story. Take a look:


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