Tilikum: A year after trainer death

Erica Hill speaks with former SeaWorld trainer Samantha Berg about whether it is safe for Tilikum the killer whale to begin performing again a year after the death of a trainer.

[@saltyfroots9]

If tilikum was still with his family, the people he killed would still be with theirs.

[@kaylatheorca1388]

Totally agree!

[@carrotteeman4008]

+Eanna McGhee very good point,well said.

[@saltyfroots9]

+Carrot teeman Thankyou

[@carrotteeman4008]

Eanna McGhee no problem.I love animals & have all ways owned dogs.I always thought that keeping a large animal such as a killer whale with huge brains in such a small area is like a person living their whole lives in a 12 by 12 room with room service.All killer whale pods also have their own langauge,so putting orca's in there with other orca's from different pods is also cruel because they can not communicate with each other.Hopefully one day we as humans will get it together & stop being so cruel.Have a great life see ya.

[@saltyfroots9]

+Carrot teeman yes exactly! You too see ya

[@pipercheshire6158]

Disgusting they'd blame it on her

[@Unpronounceable.]

Piper Cheshire ...

[@masonbrandon3549]

Who Did They Blame 🤔

[@xmn_flowerx9577]

Well, if you're going to keep a wild animal in a swimming pool for no reason other then money then you deserve to die

[@pepsiatlas5452]

@@xmn_flowerx9577 well arent you the bigger person..

[@Wareaglegirl9960]

Møøn Clåws Dawn didn’t keep the whales in captivity so no she didn’t deserve to die. Sea world owners should die

[@Nags]

my heart breaks for Tilikum, I am really scared for him.

[@ogrebattle22763]

The story about the incident in Spain I believe is even more disgusting...

[@full-courtpress7345]

+ogrebattle22763 Link?

[@ogrebattle22763]

BouyantFire Just look it up....

[@catudraws8497]

And the trainer. She wasn’t corporate. She was just a trainer doing her job.

[@azura1774]

What about the trainer you dickhead

[@cjsaggers4902]

Tilikum and every other animal sadly spending their lives at SeaWorld shouldn't be there in the first place.

[@figgynewton3138]

👌

[@touchmyfanny]

The orcas are far more intelligent us humans... Let them go

[@afatcatdragonsden]

It's the other away around, but it's true that what SeaWorld does is very cruel.

[@bigmuchknow342]

certainly more intelligent than you ;)

[@charlotte-wp3ki]

@afatcatdragonsden well, we humans are the smartest in evolution, but the dumbest in what is good for ourselves, our planet, and the other animals that inhabit this planet

[@angliase]

Thankyou Tilikum for showing the world the cruelty of being used for entertainment. Now Seaworld has been forced to drop the orca shows. Tilikum died on 1.6.17.

[@larissamccord4968]

Seriously?? They shut the shows down?? That's a great thing

[@Barbara-1111]

I think SW killed him...he just didn’t all of a sudden just die...

[@barbarasmith4560]

So sad for him..

[@teletubi3389]

It’s not his fault they are wildlife! It’s good that they fucking shut down

[@voodoodoll9663]

RIP

[@TraceyLGardinerROP64]

orcas have no place in captivity...they are realted to the dolphin family...highly intelligent...and have social family groups...we do not have the right to take these animals from the wild for human entertainment...heres an idea you want to see these amazing animals see them in the wild...or better still watch a documentary...Txx

[@charlotte-wp3ki]

Tracey Gardiner Young Bump in the night Productions they are in the dolphin family, they’re the largest species of dolphin

[@porkchop606]

Why put him back in the show? They were able to put Keiko back in the wild, why can't they do the same for Shamu and Tilikum?

[@mayraisabelpearson8724]

EXACTLY THEY COULD TAKE TILIKUM TO A SEABED TEACH HIM HOW TO FIND FOOD AND HOW TO SURVIVE IN THE OCEAN THEN THEN SHOULD RELEASE HIM BACK HOME WITH THE REST OF HIS FAMILY. IT WORKED BEFORE IT DOES WORK SEA WORLD JUST WANTS HIM TO DIE IN THEIR EVIL TANK THAT IS THE TRUTH IF THEY REALLY CARE WHY CAN'T THEY RETIRE HIM HE DESERVES TO BE FREE HE HAS SUFFERED TOO MUCH!

[@robertfullmer2467]

Granted though, Keiko didn't fully re-adapt to the wild. So it's really not as simple as just letting them go.

[@reaganluker2278]

It’s more cruel to release the animals than to keep them because they won’t be able to survive and it’s not as simple as it seems just to teach it how to hunt.

[@jennifertrusley8599]

Keiko died because he needed human interaction. He was used to it. Keiko may very well be alive today had he been kept in Oregon. Maybe not be in shows but not released either.

[@hotcheetoes277]

All I gotta say is if there was a way I would do everything I can RIP kiekio

[@readytogo6569]

Thank God Tillikum is at Peace in Orca Heaven❣️🙏🏼

[@pepsiatlas5452]

which i assume is seaworld employee hell

[@jeffreyolivier5571]

this lady isn telling the whole truth

[@electrocat07]

Jeffrey Olivier she's supposed to lie, for money and fame. The trainers have to lie so the public don't lash out at SeaWorld and stop going.

[@arasharash5740]

I think she is telling the whole truth

[@KatieKatt18]

She doesn’t work at Seaworld anymore and wasn’t at the time of this interview she’s spoken out against them before in other documentaries she left because she couldn’t take the treatment of the animals

[@lmao.end.it.9971]

She comes out in blackfish on Netflix .... she tells a little more truth there

[@mikhaelburt8332]

@@expirednachos she follows up with the fact that it's possible a4th death could happen so she's not hiding anything

[@quechi2942]

If you want to prevent deaths how about set him free? That's an idea

[@kazsmith550]

What if he can't survive on his own so that's why he's in captivity. Ever think of that?

[@quechi2942]

KaZ Smith Obviously he can survive on his own, he's a wild animal. No diseases, no problems nothing. He survived before they kidnapped him from the ocean too.

[@kazsmith550]

Space Llama you realize that when they're taken away it's because something happened and they needed intensive care

[@quechi2942]

KaZ Smith Not at sea world. Just search for it, there are tons of videos. Sea world is for pure entertainment and they do in fact take them away from their families and such, even though they are fine.

[@jesseca468]

@KaZ Smith No. He did not need any help. Watch Blackfish on Netflix. Before they captured him he was in the wild and perfectly fine. No injuries, he didn't need help. They captured him and many other orcas to use at Sealand and other parks. Tilikum was fine before they captured him. It was unnecessary.

[@hugitout23]

I think they should take all the people involved with seaworld into a room and ask them all one question; should we free all the whales? Anyone that says no gets life in prison eating nothing but chicken and jello and once a day they get put into a stadium full of people to do cartwheels and flips to get more chicken.

[@gigirobarts9179]

and do that for 20, 30 years or more!!!

[@aranyanii4344]

actually the animals do their routine circus act 2-3 times a day. So I think those employees who said no should do the cartwheels and flips 2-3 times/day as well. ^__^ I wonder how much the ticket would be. :v

[@Lovely_Mia087]

hugitout23 LOL I actually liked this comment. It's so funny but yes it's paints the same picture as the conditions to which these animals aren't currently living under.

[@id4890]

i like the ie, but now i feel sorry for the chicken

[@Zb_Calisthenic]

Genius

[@kungfukenny9300]

who else just came here from blackfish? I am ashamed i paid see one of their shows. granted its a great show. but its not worth it. Its a jail zoo. Sea world needs to be shut down. Like all the other zoos.

[@idiotwilson1474]

some zoos do good like the Clearwater marine aquarium

[@ElizabethRock1]

Okay here is the thing. Tilikum was abused as a baby whale. He has suffered a very hard life and Tilly was very sweet if you watched Blackfish in the start of his life. Also we would not know what do in some stances if wasn't for Sea World

[@srghot18]

Black fish is alot of lies, do not believe everything you see or hear.

[@emilyprentiss7888]

sea world is all lies you dumb ass

[@sophiedan5329]

@@srghot18 how is that??

[@imle9279]

Orcas at seaworld have a lifespan of 14 years, while in the wild they can live till they are 60-100 years old. Keiko (Willy in free willy) got released into the wild and died in the wild. He was free, he was able to swim, he wasn’t forced to do trix, he was happy. He didn’t have a pack tho, which made him lonely, so he came to people and socialized with them. Keiko died at the age of 27, which is almost twice as much as an orca in captivity. Free those dolphins, let them live a life worth living. And shut seaworld down for good.

[@thechamchamofimdb4594]

He wasn't happy, he was hungry!

[@oldironsides4107]

That isn’t true at all. Unless you count still born calves

[@antgreene4223]

@@thechamchamofimdb4594 Mc donates pack

[@jbr6205]

Stop lying, most Orcas in Seaworld lived more than 30 years. If they realesed them they almost inmediately died because an animal that was raised in captivity can't live on the wild

[@manuelsaldivar01]

So they think putting him back in the show is goo for him, I think the best thing for him is to let him free.

[@TheLennyLegoShow]

right, he has been performing for DECADES. I think that's long enough.

[@PrincessTessa247]

what would he do in the wild? it’s not like he knows how to hunt, where to migrate, and with as sociable as orcas are, he has no pod. He also hasn’t been exposed to any of the germs, sicknesses, or other animals since he was baby, so he would die faster in the wild than in captivity.

[@TheLennyLegoShow]

TessaBrown273 Maybe that's what Seaworld means when they say whales live longer in Captivity. Maybe they are referring to the captive born ones by saying if they were released, they would die quicker.

[@onisionbanana4491]

100% right

[@manuelmartineznusn]

No words to describe the rotten garbage that Sea World really is!! One day this will be seen the same way we relate old Rome and gladiators to how cruel, barbaric. and obnoxious SW is. Damn you SW for torturing these beautiful and intelligent mammals.

[@_RayOfLight_]

manuel martinez , well... the gladiators are still exist. Now it’s called boxing 🥊. Yes. Death after death on a ring . Why they called it sport ? Where is a sport there ? In a beating shit out of a human head ??? It’s money 💰. Nothing else.

[@timberart286]

You know what would be good for his mental health? LETTING HIM GOOOO

[@risefrommud7472]

why keep him in captivity isolated from everyone? set him free! no shows, no isolation! sea world is full of Incompetent employees

[@TheSurfrer1]

I hope Tilikum gets his revenge ten-fold and puts Sea World under the microscope.

[@Patalhufas]

+John Davis I hope for that too! How many times this kind of accident should happen before authorities actually forbid this kind of park?

[@ShadowofKnight644]

Tilikum died two years ago that won't happen

[@pepsiatlas5452]

@@ShadowofKnight644 2 words. ghost whale

[@mariazarzycka2666]

Tilikum is in the Eternal Waters now, but his descendants are still suffering in this abusement parks.

[@miloackermanful]

Sad. Capturing creatures like this is ridiculous.

[@Myferardromance12]

Free Tilikum! I understand that some of the information from Blackfish could have been misleading, however, In the years since the attack why have they left Tilikum by himself? Its clear that he isn't taken care of as well as the other whales so they should release him back to the wild or, and I hate to say it, put him down. I have read several stories from different people on how they traveled to SeaWorld, stayed all day and watched Tilikum, and saw no stimulation happening other than him being moved and fed. It's utterly ridiculous that people are even arguing that SeaWorld treats their animals right. If they did then why are all the signs leading to Tilikum being depressed for basically his entire life, now more than ever.

[@hayley50278]

they cant put him down thats mental. its their own fault and by that i mean seaworlds fault. and now instead of doing the right thing they neglect him further isolating him in a tank he dosent move for hours at a time all they have to do is build a sea pen and put him in it for a time prior to releasing him and monitoring him in the ocean just like keiko who did find a pod in norway to join and lived happily in the wild post release. and as for lolita in miami they know where her pod is and she should be released immediately instead of being kept in an illegally small tank being forced to perform.

[@Finisl]

Knowing orcas have a very strong family bound and relatively high IQ. It's just sad to see these animals kept in captivity. I can't even imagine someone to take my kids away and locking in captivity for 10, 20+ years. blog.seattlepi.com/candacewhiting/2014/03/08/are-orca-whales-too-smart-for-captivity-why-californias-possible-legislation-against-captivity-makes-sense/

[@hayley50278]

let alone keeping them in a bath tub and making them perform tricks

[@OrlandoOrca]

Tilikum isn't alone so I'm not sure where you heard that? He is mainly retired and lives with Trua.

[@truthteller9772]

when a whale has it's phin down it's very unhappy kinda like a dog wagging it's tail when it's happy.

[@mscolli3]

I'm amazed at how well the story was suppressed about Dawn Brancheau. All these years I thought the whale drowned her but it actually scalped her and crushed her spine.

[@Camaink1]

Drown is first the second is collateral!

[@Umit.Aslan3737]

I heard from someone who saw the autopsy report that she also severed her arm completely.

[@itsivaschannel2391]

From what I remember her injuries were horrific. Severed arm, severed neck, scalped, broken jaw, broken ribs

[@ussopfanclub1111]

Hes already dead inside😢 hes broken by captivity😢😢

[@PeridotLioness85]

SeaWorld was thinking of putting Tilikum down a.k.a kill him, BUT Dawn's family said that Dawn would NOT want that.

[@sunflowersarles]

Tilikum died last Jan. 6, 2017. :(

[@nyariak923]

sunflowersarles all because of seaworld

[@angelamarchese9464]

What do you mean Strawberri puffs

[@Mrs_Canary]

How?

[@Mrs_Canary]

3 deaths in 20years. Wtf

[@brookebeers4309]

At least he is finally FREE! ❤️ The whale can NOT be blamed.

[@simmyeve6535]

Since they are so concerned about Tilikum's well being, how about releasing him back to the wild? He's going to be happy and nobody needs to fear that he might drown another trainer, right?

[@cindybrady9345]

Listen to this psychopath say that an orca who is stressed and dehydrated needs to be put back to work. This is a clear example of how demented these fuckers are. Incredibly arrogant, selfish and stupid. Not caring about the mentality of the animal is the number one reason why there are deaths to begin with.

[@simmyeve6535]

Cindy Brady Did you even read carefully what I was saying? I suggest releasing Tilikum back to the wild. What work are you talking about? Are you sure you are not the psychopath here or maybe you simply have really poor reading skills in general?

[@cindybrady9345]

Adam Sim Adam I was agreeing with you actually you got me wrong, I was talking about the speaker in the clip not you...Peace.

[@simmyeve6535]

Oh....Then, I sincerely apologize to you. Thank you by the way :D

[@cindybrady9345]

Adam Sim No problem Adam its easy to get confused with all the commenting I am glad to see so many people passionate about letting the whales go free. It worked for Keiko and they need to give Keiko a friend - Tilly! keiko.com/faq.html

[@annetteslife]

Rest in peace Tilly you are free from this hell on earth. Say hi to Kasatka, Hugo, and NAMI for all of your fans

[@oldironsides4107]

Now she’s in actual hell.

[@Arckra]

To add on to this: The other whales attack him constantly, so now Tilly is kept alone. He barely gets any interaction when he's an animal that is just as social as humans. I'd go insane if I were him too, especially since he has known what it is to be wild. In watching Blackfish, his pod actively tried to save him and the other babies. They aren't dumb, mindless critters.

[@GoneAt88]

When it comes to show entertainment it's all about $ to Sea World. Thanks for speaking the truth, Samantha.

[@SaintCharlos]

Please set him free. He's probably depressed and stressed with being in a theme park. If I owned SeaWorld, I would only adopt the marine baby animals who had their parents killed or are nearly dead. If there were any depressed animals who hated being in the theme park, I would set them free.

[@Dark-IQ]

she says she didn't know about the incidents but has always had the power to look it up (face palm)

[@1TLA7]

What’s crazy is YOU WOULD NEVER GO INTO A TAKE WITH A SHARK But these guys eat sharks ... let’s go in a tank with one of the smartest animals alive that eats sharks for snacks like LOGIC HAS LEFT THE CHAT

[@wolfdimensions9414]

Thank you Tilikum for fighting for your freedom and for your food you will forever be remembered R.I.W rest in water Tilikum he died😭

[@sierraw4988]

no 😢😢

[@YordieSands]

This was very informative. I was stunned to learn how the deaths had similar M.O.s

[@airbear8240]

In the summer of 2002, Keiko joined the company of wild whales and swam nearly 1000 miles to the Norwegian coast. Since then, Keiko has been cared for in a fjord where he was free to come and go by his own choice.

[@harrietcaton8401]

I watched blackfish and I have been to SeaWorld Orlando 4 times I went this year 2018 I watched the show and I started crying because theses poor killer whales should be in the wild and it’s a proven fact no killer whales and killed anyone in the wild.

[@tick-tockdancetutorials3925]

Tilikum only killed them people because of them being in captivity so he was stressed and angry so he killed them

[@aylabilse3697]

this ex-trainers information does not add up. From another sea world trainer, Tilikum was always strictly forbidden from doing water work with the trainers due to his past record but also because he was known to be very possessive of toys in the water, refusing to relinquish his toys, much like he refused to relinquish his trainer when he had her in his jaws. It was already very well known Tilikum was an insanely dangerous whale if in the water.

[@gracechiasson9774]

Killer whales belong in the sea not in captivity

[@jjmoris5650]

RIP TiLLI, you should have NEVER taken out of the sea and your family to begin with. I know youre in heaven now no pain can reach you

[@liviaavelino13]

my heart breaks for Tilikum and the trainer...I'm so sorry

[@KCTV2022]

Tilikum needs a movie.

[@sarafox2489]

Before orcas were captured and put into captivity, there was no recorded deaths caused by orcas. It would have stayed like that if greed didn’t get the better of people.

[@mcnoface8000]

The reason there are no recorded deaths are they live in freezing water and it most cases away from the coast and people

[@aquakenn]

Kiko (Free Willy) was released into the wild but he always came back because he was so domesticated. BUT he had the whole open ocean for him at all times. That's what Tilikum needs.

[@aquakenn]

Thanks. I remember his rejection but I didn't realize how short his freedom was.

[@OldWorldNobility]

Ken R Keiko died due to respiratory complications, and was already ill. He was extraordinarily stressed, and while the push to free him came from a good place in the hearts of millions of fans, he was not a good candidate for release due to his fragile condition and many years in captivity. Orcas have a very complex social hierarchy, and even if he had managed to find his pod, that is no guarantee that he would have been accepted back into it. It is worth noting that the aquarium in Oregon that housed him prior to moving him to an open water pen had a special tank built just for him, and the effort to release him was a valiant one. While it is a very good thing that orcas can no longer be wild caught, I personally believe that ceasing all captivity is not the answer, as there is still much that we can learn from these animals. That said, the pools that are currently available are WAY too small for an animal of the size that an orca attains in ALL current facilities. If corporations such as SeaWorld could cease shows for entertainment, provide much larger pools, and simply provide public viewing access through the very thick glass, I do not think captivity would be inappropriate. The trouble comes, in that building a pool of a humane size would require monumental costs that SeaWorld is not going to shell out. We're talking about an animal that grows up to lengths of 30 feet, weighing several tons, and lives in groups. They would have to build a pool to house a pod, and we're talking millions of dollars here. These people that just say "release the whales" are speaking out of a good hearted place, but it is an emotional reaction, and I really don't think they truly comprehend the amount of work or money that goes into rehabilitating an animal of this magnitude. It's really not as easy as driving the orca down to the bay and watching them clear a wall, as awe inspiring as that CGI scene was in the film Free Willy. They have to be taught how to hunt for live fish. They have to learn to detach and avoid humans (And humans need to avoid them in order for them to adapt to a life in the wild, which tourists are loathe to do. "Look at the cool, cute whale mommy! He let me touch him! This is so magical!" Without even realizing it, those tourists are setting the animal up for failure. Google an orca by the name of Luna, and watch her story.), they have to adjust to a new environment. The list goes on and on.

[@lanabrown2541]

Agree

[@arielthepom]

@@OldWorldNobility captivity is what killed him, not being set free. he survived for over a year on his own. he got pnumonnia from living in bad conditions in Mexico for so long. he only had 6 months to live so the fact he lived 5 is amazing.his story is not a tragedy but success

[@averagelife5523]

R.i.p... Now you free...

[@MissKatAttackOfficial]

Your opinion is extremely valid! Thank you.

[@hendrikasunqrout571]

I will never forget this victim, Tilikum!

[@mrsjayhoward]

no setting him freeis what is best. They are not meant to eat died fish.

[@robjackson4050]

Jay he needs punished like all killers

[@robjackson4050]

Jay he needs punished like all killers

[@tonygjurashaj8164]

+rob jackson We kill animals all the time. Since we kill animals should we get punished? They're animals. They have a different kind of perspective from us humans. Who knows if they knew what they were doing. They shouldn't be in that tank, they should be free and alone, with their own kind.

[@datlolo7253]

He would not survive in the wild, he has no pod and doesnt know how to hunt, other whales would shun him n even try to harm him and kill him, i dont agree with seaworld putting orcas in csptivity but in tilikums situation hes better off in their as sad as that sounds, hes been a captive whale all his life and hes doesnt know anyother lifestyle

[@jessicar7061]

I agree with you that's it's not in Tilikum's best interest to just be released to the wild at this point, it's too risky. BUT, just so you know, Tilikum was actually one of the whales abducted from his real family in the wild when he was already over a year old (forget the exact age). So he hasn't been in captivity ALL his life, he almost certainly does remember what it was like to be free and with his family... Who knows, he may even remember the day he was captured. How sad is that.

[@konigwolf2679]

Jessica R If whales in the wild live to be 80+ years old I often wonder if his pod is still out there. What sucks is there's really no damn way for us to locate his pod, but I wonder if he was released in the same area he was abducted from, someone would adopt him into their pod and teach him to do all these things on his own? Then again...there's also the chance he'd be rejected by pods and hurt in the process. I don't know what they need to do for him to be happy at this point...I know people are saying it's not in his best interest to be released, but I mean as a human being........give me liberty or give me death? I'd definitely wanna take the chance of being released into the wild and at least TRY to adapt than live out the rest of my days in captivity.

[@crowdog2121]

He would be well suited to "open ocean pens" It is an area of ocean that has a barrier. They can still experience a natural ocean environment, but be protected and cared for. Often they can relearn their ability to hunt and survive in the open ocean. Its like a halfway house for marine animals.

[@blueskiesstudio]

Konig Wolf You speaking about 'no way of knowing what pod he is from' got me to thinking about that. The possibility of some one going out among the differing pods and maybe taking a skin sample to see if his dna matches up with theirs, could be one way of getting him to the correct pod. Then? I don't know, maybe capturing one of them that he matched up with and putting the two of them together for a week and see how it goes, then release them both together....just a thought.

[@aneetarr]

and who would pay for all of this?

[@lisapecaskie4333]

You are Free Now Tillikum💞💞💞💞RIP We Love You💞💞

[@pepsiatlas5452]

aaaah. i could take or leave him. theyre cool with us but theyre real dicks with other whales

[@ApplesTM]

3 years later and fucking nothing's changed.

[@antmillner]

Did you know : Not even 1 killer whale has attacked a human in the wild. Ever!!!!!

[@pepsiatlas5452]

isnt there exactly 1 report?

[@19lhernandez]

I feel completely different about Sea World now, these beautiful, majestic beasts have NO business in captivity!!

[@1212matt]

30 years in captivity... even humans get to retire... Set this poor animal free and let him experience freedom, even if for a few days, months or years... I went to Sea World as a kid, but in 2014 Id rather view these magnificent animals in the wild where they belong.

[@nusratb.1341]

Rest in eternal peace, Tilikum.

[@nickloks]

We blackfish on Netflix, great documentary

[@joshmclendon3718]

yeah yeah yeah i promise you everyone is here because of that.

[@grace1414]

i say let him go, let him enjoy the last years of his life in the wild.....hes been in captivity so long that he may not know how to survive long, but maybe he can be in a sea pen, atleast he would be in the ocean....better than a tank....or just release him into the wild and he can be free for as long as he survives....i just hate too see the poor guy isolated in a tank alone!!

[@imipayne1]

I

[@kyliebrooks2158]

WTF??? He WOULDNT survive? WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU??? the reason this whale is so fucking un healthy is because it is kept in a fucking box. Im absolutely gobsmacked that you can even think that animal needs our "TREATMENT" to stop it from dying???? and whats that shit your saying about NEW infections?! DIFFERING TEMPERATURES?! and last but not least..... THE FUCKING TIDES??!?!?!? THE FUCKING TIDES?????? I bet youre one of those dumb cunts who buys a t-shirt at the Sea World gift shop and gives yourself a pat on the back because the tag says they give one dollar of the profit to the saving of marine life. YOU ARE A MORON.

[@kittykat0k397]

Poor tilikum he has been through so much god bless him and I am so glad they shut down all shows

[@ashley-cz1sl]

Its not his fault that the humans captured him out of the wild when he was 3 years old. He is acting out his aggression and killed the humans because he is traumatized and is going crazy. Wouldn't you go crazy if you were stuck in a bath tub with 6 other people and could not get out. The only way you could get food is if you preformed tricks for people's entertainment. Wouldn't you attack the person who what making you do this in hopes you could be set free? He does not need to be killed,

[@jeremybickham1519]

If only there was a way to help Tilikum. If only he could reunite him with his family.

[@TheSissysnake]

I would just let him go! He is wild and stressed being locked up

[@rayfinkle7563]

If there’s 1 animal that should not be held in a concrete swimming pool, it’s an orca. They are so smart and social they should never be in captivity. That is an apex predator, they are the rulers of the sea.

[@shauncurrier3255]

I feel so bad for the friends and family of the trainer

[@bugoboo101]

All these years everything was hush, hush and even myself believed as a child that all was well and the companies were doing right by these mammals and trainers. How we were all fooled into "believing" (hmmm, is there pun on the show name?) I can't say I don't feel angered by all of it and just relieved that I now know the truth!

[@amandakelhoffer6851]

I'll Stand Up For Tilikum Cuz Hes Not Bad A Whale And Will Be

[@aubsmw]

the only reason he did the attack was construction was going on during the attack

[@rooowtwx]

Funny how they are talking about these killer whales are “responsible for” or “involved in” a trainer’s death like they’re humans or what...

[@leanneadams2549]

This Erieca Hill or whoever was being rude to Samantha Berg. You could tell she had so much more to say but what she did get to say was very important and to the fact. And she was another awesome person in the documentary- Blackfish. I wish she was treated more respectfully from that woman reporter

[@kaksjfd]

i agree i have seen dolphins in singapore water park being treated like crap we should free them

[@KortKnee420]

Tilikum's story and history (along with many other animals enslaved in captivity) are truly heartbreaking. please STOP taking these beautiful animals from their natural habitats... please release all in captivity!!! ❤ 😢

[@dougiequick1]

Whale figured it this way "heck I already am convicted to life imprisonment ...might as well murder someone and make it somewhat justified"

[@Camaink1]

My god this ppl rather risk more trainers lifes than actually setting him free!! Something really went wrong in sea worlds management logics!!

[@aren4319]

why is his fin bent over? also the best thing for this whales mental health is to let him go.

[@typicalqt438]

He has been with then for 32 or 34 years . he has a bent fin because he doesnr swim much. the pools are very small. they keep them in captivity . so their fins bend

[@aren4319]

+TypicalQt that's terrible, honestly can't blame him for attacking and killing trainers.

[@TheBlondeBomb1000]

From swimming in endless circles at low speed, near the surface of the pool where warm air temperatures also break down the collagen in the dorsal fin. It gets floppy. Whales in the wild swim at high speed, in deep waters and in multiple directions. It's another sad by-product of captivity.

[@SofiesRaun]

RIP Sweet Tilikum

[@leonardorevrenna2875]

I wish I could just give tilikum a massive hug

[@ringking090]

ITZ _ W4R he’s dead now unfortunately

[@erikahaynes3987]

Wow they talk about this whale like he can go to jail from commenting a murder crime. Think about it he's a killer whale who doesn't belongs in captivity. He belongs in the wild.

[@annamcnally405]

These animals should be in the wild: not confined for own amusement ! Just because these pointless tricks they are taught make things look happy clappy, doesn't mean that these tricks are enjoyed by animals. SHUT DOWN SEA WORLD AND SAVE THESE ANIMALS!

[@pengytwins]

just because Tilikum killed someone doesn't mean you have to isolate him.

[@kaylatheorca1388]

Totally agree!

[@jesseca468]

+underworld actually, he only killed these people BECAUSE he was captive. Imagine if you were to be in basically a bathtub (for us) for over 25 years when you're suppose to be out in the wild. I'm pretty sure you would go insane as well and become emotionally unstable. this poor animal is in prison basically. This is a WILD ANIMAL, not some pet who does tricks to make humans money. He or any other wild animal should not be held in captivity. And don't say he should because he killed 3 people. If they would've never captured him and taken him from his family this would have never happened to any of the trainers. Dawn or any of the trainers did not deserve this. But Tilikum didn't either.

[@jesseca468]

Yeah I agree. They should have put him back but now it is too late because he is not use to wild life since he's been in captivity for years. But I understand why he was aggressive.

[@jesseca468]

Also no. Watch blackfish. Female whales do NOT fear Tilikum. A couple years ago the females actually would attack Tilikum and leave rakes all over his body that's why he was separated.

[@truthteller9772]

Free Tilikum

[@dianemcfarland181]

I hate to see these poor beautiful and wild creatures reduced to performing...so degrading for them....such a sad life for them 😢

[@beautifulleaves8616]

The death of three people...and trainers still haven't gotten the hint that he dislikes performing and interacting with people. That's no their inherent nature, you're irritating them.

[@caylenekaren]

why dont you just put tilikum and the other orcas back in the ocean! that's the best thing you can do to avoid deaths! i thought humans are the smartest but then everything shown here proved me wrong!

[@MrNotsoperfect2]

Fuck them whales.

[@sophiedan5329]

You cant.

[@WhiffleWaffles]

Because some wouldn't survive in the wild, I think. Let alone in captivity of course. And because imof greed.

[@acx7885]

tilikum was in captivity since the age of 2 i think he wouldnt have survive in the ocean especially due to the fact they couldnt find his pod

[@MrCrampon]

Free the orcas !

[@xXamillioncolorsXx]

Parks like Sea World are extremely important to conservation, but I think its too much to expect, having a predator that large and impossible to control in a park, around people, and somesort of incidient not occur. Perhaps these type of parks should stick to showing people injured animals that no longer have the ability to survive in a natural enviroment.... Im sure finding an Orca wounded though would be a difficult task. They are top predators afterall.

[@CharlotteWeb100]

He is one seriously big lad isn't he? Jesus shit... massive.

[@idiotwilson1474]

please dont use my saviours name in vain

[@aylabilse3697]

JESUS FUCKING CHRIST

[@idiotwilson1474]

Ur rude

[@brianjose8643]

Seaworld sucks. Hashtag free tilly, lol

[@PeridotLioness85]

Omg, the former trainer giving the interview very rarely blinks.

[@fgcfelice]

That's why we shouldn't meddle with nature. These animals aren't meant to be kept in a pool that proportionally to them is a bathtub. Tilikum was unhappy, and if you read more about him, he was taken away from his family and bullied by other whales, not to mention abused by trainers. And what's really sad is that he probably can't be released into the wild, because he's not used to hunting and fending for himself, so we should just let these creatures live in peace instead of making money of their unhappiness. I've gone scuba diving before and encountered orcas, and they are gentle and happy when you leave them alone to be in the ocean, because honestly is there a place bigger than the ocean?

[@terrakingsley77]

some ''sea world'' hired corporate relations fuck probably had someone trained to keep that last whale''keiko'' at bay,with a distance tracker and tiny shock stimulus prod so that it made people look wrong and sea world like some precious mediated foster-''parent''/caregiver!

[@andrewpytko4773]

It's not that they eat dead fish that's the problem, it's the fact that you gut those fish that is. Their innards provide much needed nutrition.

[@Rocketjay12]

This former Sea World employee calls the withholding of information from trainers by Sea World about "incidents" that occurred in the past "a serious mistake". Is it a mistake or just an intentional omission?

[@271207]

I think it's wrong to keep animals in captivity purely for entertainment, however, I think the shows at SeaWorld also have a certain educative value and increase awareness in people to whom killer whales and whales are just a distant species in the ocean to which they do not feel connected. Considering SeaWorld no longer captures animals but insteads maintains a population through breeding, I could find peace with the shows, if they would present it as less of a show and give more information.

[@bby04]

i honestly don’t understand why they keep these shows up knowing how dangerous they are for trainers and in turn the dolphins and whales should be able to have their freedom and not be stuck in an enclosed tank and looked at by thousands of people everyday. no wonder they attack sometimes, it’s their nature

[@crazyformusic23]

yay! go tilly! i think he really needs back in the shows to get his excercise again!

[@nathanchrestman7450]

That curly hair lady was in the movie blackfish

[@ingridllinas5612]

Good! She told what she found out when she quit her job at the Park. What was the reason to hide the truth, if they had to deal with the risk. As a trainer she was aware anything can happened because of a mistake or depending on how stress or change in the animal’s mood due to captivity. I do not know why hiding the truth if that is about the trainers security.

[@jesinotermann7999]

he needs to be freed this is absolutely cruel

[@Skyewalker1000]

Disgusting behaviour by Seaworld. Separation of mother and baby, forced to perform, away from their family, terribly small enclosures, poor conditions. It's disgusting that they are treating intelligent creatures this way. End it.

[@angierae7653]

These Beautiful Creatures aren't meant to be held in little swimming pools for extended periods of time for entertainment purposes. They are wild animals that need to be in their natural habitat or they'll just naturally end up more aggressive over time. It's similar to keeping a human being in solitary confinement. We are naturally SOCIAL beings and when we're removed from our natural habitat.....things are just bound to go wrong.

[@jade5056]

Are they really surprised that a killer whale kept in captivity and being given very little food is not gonna kill a trainer

[@weloveyoumaxwell]

Coming back to this years later. It’s still shocking how fucked up sea world is. Glad that once the whales in captivity die they won’t be getting anymore.

[@cvtmr8079]

We all need to protest these animals being kept in captivity by not going to the shows.