TILIKUM: Serial Killer, Killer Whale?

Tilikum (c. December 1981[1] - January 6, 2017), nicknamed Tilly,[2] was a captive male orca who spent most of his life at SeaWorld Orlando in Florida. He was captured in Iceland in 1983; about a year later, he was transferred to Sealand of the Pacific in Victoria, British Columbia.[3] He was subsequently transferred in 1992 to SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida where he sired 21 calves throughout his life.
While orca attacks on humans in the wild are rare, and no fatal attacks have been recorded as of 2022 four humans have died due to interactions with captive orcas Tilikum was involved in three of those deaths.
First death
Keltie Byrne (December 6, 1970 - February 20, 1991) was a Canadian student, animal trainer and competitive swimmer. She had been working at the Canadian theme park Sealand of the Pacific as a trainer when she drowned in 1991, after she slipped and was forcibly submerged into a pool of enclosed water by a group of orca whales.
Second death
Daniel P. Dukes was an American man from South Carolina and the second victim out of three deaths attributed to Tilikum. Dukes's death gained renewed attention, along with the earlier death of Canadian victim Keltie Byrne, SeaWorld has consistently maintained that the man was a homeless vagrant who simply climbed into Tilikum's pool and drowned, while Dukes's coroner's report, along with animal rights advocates for Tilikum, have pointed out that Dukes's corpse was found severely mutilated by the whale.
Third death
On February 24, 2010, Tilikum killed Dawn Brancheau, a 40-year-old SeaWorld trainer
Brancheau was killed following a Dine with Shamu show. The veteran trainer was rubbing Tilikum as part of a post-show routine when the orca grabbed her by her ponytail and pulled her into the water. Some witnesses reported seeing Tilikum grab Brancheau by the arm or shoulder. He reportedly scalped her then bit off her arm and swallowed it during the attack. Brancheau's autopsy indicated death by drowning and blunt force trauma

[@jackanddan]

This was all ridiculous….thought so when I was a little kid and went for the first time….never went back since…. we have heard about how she world has changed a lot and they’ve gotten rid of a lot of the animals and that we should go because there’s fun rides and all that kind of stuff but we still never have because we feel like the only reason they changed is because people kind of forced it groups like PETA and stuff like that and if they probably never would’ve changed it if they weren’t forced too so we don’t want to go but we did go to aquatica which is like the water park next to sea world. People said we should have gone to sea world too but we probably won’t ever…. We think it was incredibly naïve for any person to think that they could tame such a wild fearce and huge creature.

[@VinnysAquatics]

Anything for money 😞

[@RandWFarmstead-TonyWalsh]

Well said Vinny. Thanks for sharing this story and i hope you have a blessed rest of the day and week ahead my friend.

[@VinnysAquatics]

You too brother 👍👍👍 all the best 😃

[@madcat61207]

Good show! 😾✌thanks for bringing awareness to this issue watching & supporting here We need to Just Stop It!

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank You for watching 👍 hope everything is going well with you 😃

[@elvskitchen]

Nice sharing about story of tilikum and your pet dog its so cute

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank You my friend 👍 buster says thank you too 😃

[@nutier]

Awesome video ! I enjoy it so much . Thank you for sharing . Have a nice week my friend !

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank You so much my brother 👍👍👍

[@bunnyviperaquatics2108]

I’ve studied this story, it’s a shame all the way around. Thanks for sharing. Love you much!!

[@VinnysAquatics]

Bunny it really is a Shame we can do better. Much love my friend 😃😃😃

[@VanilaIcy]

Hi Vinny!! Hope u doing well Icy is here fully support 😍

[@VinnysAquatics]

You’re the best vanilla 👍👍👍

[@acuariombr]

Awesome video my friend, I like the video!, a big hug, 👍62

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank you as always my brother 👍👍👍

[@jessicalovedragonfly]

I wish they would leave the whales in the Ocean. I understand the curiosity people have, however what people are failing to realize is It breaks up families. Killer whales live in family groups, or matriarchal pods, led by a dominant female. Each family has their own unique calls and they form strong lifelong bonds. Taking killer whales from the wild and placing them in captivity breaks these bonds, causing emotional stress. So just imagine being RIPED AWAY from all people you are close and connected to all for people's curiosity. Personally again, leave them in the Ocean and let them be.. Thank you so much for making this video and educating everyone. Love everything you do here on your channel my friend. Hope you are keeping well and having a wonderful weekend. 🌸 🦋 🌸

[@VinnysAquatics]

I totally agree 👍👍👍 much love my friend 😃

[@1BusyMama]

I remember this story, thanks for sharing it

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank You for watching 👍👍👍 so sad how we treat animals sometimes

[@SkullAquatics]

Great info Vinny 👍👍👍

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank you skull 👍👍👍

[@fishismyhobbyofficial]

good day Brother, thanks for sharing this story, to tell you the truth I'm not aware of this that happen until now that you shared it,

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank You for watching brother 👍👍👍

[@NM-Land]

Truly informative. ❤️

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank you my friend 👍👍👍

[@invalidrequest]

Epic content! ~I love to watch 😲😲😲

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank You for watching 👍👍👍

[@MrBeergo]

Great share, very informative.

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank You my friend 👍👍👍

[@AmitTheAquarists]

Great information video Vinny! Nice sharing > 58 👍👍

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank You brother 👍👍😃

[@Factchecker111]

After the fatalities Seaworld agreed to stop breeding Orcas so most people presumed they'd die out and the barbaric practice would end. Instead they loaned Orcas to other aquariums where they bred, were over populated and subsequently moved back to Seaworld.

[@VinnysAquatics]

Hi Melanie 😃 thank You for watching and it’s a real travesty how poorly these beautiful animals are treated 😞

[@waasmum5244]

very good show loma FIRST thanks you for sharing

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank You for watching my friend 😃😃😃

[@JonVlogs123]

Well done! 😎👍

[@VinnysAquatics]

👍👍👍

[@AJsGreenTopics]

We need to leave wild animals alone. Great video. 🙂

[@VinnysAquatics]

Totally agree 👍👍👍

[@Annie1962]

after so long in captivity, a wild animal's behaviour becomes a bit 'crazy'

[@Mohammadvlogs8018]

Great thanks for sharing with us like 👍

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank You my brother 😃😃😃

[@raphmaster23]

Went to sea world once when I was 5 it felt wrong even back then. I think it was from growing up with horses and this attitude of big animals need big spaces to roam. Seeing free willy a few years later sealed that for me. I haven't gone back since. What's interesting is orcas in their native waters with their actual family have never harmed humans they dont consider humans as food. They are just as curious about us as we are with them.

[@shubunkin.goldfishtank]

I never heard this until you made the video, these big beautiful animals belong in the wild.

[@VinnysAquatics]

Totally agree brother 👍👍👍

[@DapurDessy]

Nice video

[@VinnysAquatics]

👍👍👍

[@cacanhvlog9606]

nice full vlog my friend

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank You for watching my friend 👍👍👍

[@fishiemon64]

I agree Vinny 👀👍🏽🤞🏽

[@VinnysAquatics]

👍👍👍

[@FKJ_WORLD]

wow, insightful share

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank You brother 😃

[@BlueBoardAnalysis]

I love Tilikum so much. I will miss you forever

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank you for watching 👍👍👍

[@VinnysAquatics]

Was a beautiful animal 💕

[@timeepicvideos]

we have them in our waters they hunt the dolphin cool video

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank You brother 👍👍👍

[@OnlyOscars]

Excellent video about the Killer Whales.

[@VinnysAquatics]

Only oscars 👍👍👍

[@COJ.Island2]

Awsm upload √√

[@VinnysAquatics]

👍👍👍

[@lorcan96]

I 100% agree with you vinny its the humans fault for these so called accidents involving wild animals there is only so much these creatures can take before they snap and go back to instincts and kill or hunt whoever is forcing them to preform. Its something that I constantly tell people lts not the animals fault its the humans fault. Anyway thanks for the great video.

[@jessicalovedragonfly]

Agreed with everything you have said and, it is 💯 the human's fault 🎯 Leave them in the Ocean where they belong.

[@JNTravels]

Very interesting story.🐸

[@VinnysAquatics]

Thank You my friend 👍👍👍

[@davestrains6816]

I totally agree its SeaWorlds fault

[@VinnysAquatics]

Totally but anything for a buck right? 😞

[@RoccosVideos]

They say hurt people hurt people maybe it’s true with animals as well.

[@VinnysAquatics]

People can be terrible 😳

[@PanRybka22]

Beautiful orcs

[@VinnysAquatics]

Definitely 😀

[@MissBuckles23.]

Just being in that place is abuse so I say 100 percent abuse animal cruelty

[@VinnysAquatics]

I totally agree 👍

[@CasualAquatics]

Vinny when u going live next

[@VinnysAquatics]

Every Saturday night. Seems it the only thing I do on time recently 😳

[@user-ql4oz1ot8j]

здравствуйте..всего хорошего..впечетляет

[@VinnysAquatics]

👍👍👍

[@noahhacker4414]

Rip 🙏 🪦 😌

[@bipolaraquatics]

👍

[@VinnysAquatics]

👍👍👍

[@bunnyviperaquatics2108]

STOP THIS SHIT is my answer

[@VinnysAquatics]

Exactly 👍👍👍

[@dansweet6793]

I'm not really an activist but I don't believe we should be holding animals like these intelligent creatures in captivity for show, they are in the wild for a reason. I don't blame the trainers I blame Sea World .

[@TREEMEISTER.]

Keiko next?

[@VinnysAquatics]

Probably 😳

[@bluefighter4612]

3 is a bit much

[@VinnysAquatics]

Exactly. Thank You for watching 👍👍👍

[@PandaArmy-fy5zh]

totally abused

[@VinnysAquatics]

Totally agree with you 🤔

[@PandaArmy-fy5zh]

@@VinnysAquatics 👍