Weblogic

Hello!! They're called KILLER for a reason.

SeaWolrd doesn't seem to even care that it happened. They only care about profits and reopened as fast as possible. I for one, am headed to SeaWorld this summer as part of a Disney trip. My family will not see the whale show as a result of this.

I knew there had to be something wrong when they announced that this had happened 3 or 4 other times in the past. What gets me is that Jack Hanna would side with SeaWorld on this!
No doubt he has investments with SeaWorld and is trying to protect them but it's wrong to do that when lives are in danger!

If adults want to swim with Killer Whales then that is there business. The Government should stay out of people lives. That is the meaning of Freedom, being able to do what you want as long as it harms no one else.

First of all who is overseeng OSHA? I think its time that OSHA gets investigated for covering up and maybe they need to pay out to the family of the trainer that was killed. Shame on Sea World too for not protecting their workers and seeing only the millions they can make. Maybe they need to be closed down for a while, this would hurt them in the pocket. I think having all animals in captivity is cruel. One day maybe the animals will turn on us and put us in cages and confined spaces!

They shouldn't even be in captivity. They're too intelligent of a creature.

William, I will never spend my money at SeaWorld! Any business or corporation that cares more for their profits than their employees doesn't care about you or me either!

Sea World is concerned with people in the stands and profit. However , when a trainer is killed they will now relize that worker safety is good buisness. the costs of worker compensation, medical expenses, potential government fines, and the expenses of litigation. Effective workplace safety is not an expense, its an asset. its a shame they didnt listen to OSHAS special knowledge 4 years ago. they will now, but it is too late !

In the case of Tilka, I believe Sea World was negligent in letting the trainer into the water with the whale and therefore she was killed, hence the title "killer" whale.

Sea World was warned when they acquired the whale that it was very aggressive. I really can not believe they just went on with the show as if nothing ever happened. I know that Tilka can not be let go into the wild, however, a better environment should be set up for that whale and he should not be able to perform again as long as he lives.

What's wrong with the clientelle that attend those shows at Sea World, they should boycott the shows, maybe this will stop the cruel and unjust punishment that these whales must endure for the sake of "entertainment".

As far as I am concerned, if there are no more Shamu shows at Sea World, the world would be a better place. Not a necessity in life to see these shows. Keep them in the wild where they belong, they are too big to keep in captivity.

Many occupations chosen by people all over the world are dangerous. For some, it is a love of the euphoria of facing danger and "winning." For others, it is just an occupational size hazard of what they love to do. In the case of this trainer from Sea World, she knew that her job was dangerous, and did it out of love for the job. Why do we think we have the right to dictate those decisions for others? I do care about the person and the family's loss. However, we need to keep it all in perspective.

For me the issue is disclosure. People do dangerous things everyday. We just watched the Olympics where one athlete got killed. Just watching the ice skaters, skiers, and skiboarders it is easy to imagine any of them breaking their necks, literally. I feel as a society we have legislated and regulated ourselves to be too restrictive on personal choice.

Sea World has an obligation to disclose to its employees and customers the safety history of all its animals. However, if the trainer knew the danger and still chose to do what she did, that is her right. We watch The Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers on TV and call that entertainment. They are people putting themselves in danger every workday and they choose to do it.

I do agree, however, that all too often industry is able to influence government reports to their benefit. I don't think our government should give in. This issue often comes to light in terms of food safety, etc. Our country is run by big money, not our legislators.

It's sad that the trainer had to die, but she was well aware of the risk that she was taking in working with such large and potentially dangerous animals. When one willingly gets involved in a profession or recreation that has the potential for injury or death, incidents like this can happen.

I think that real re-evaluation needs to be whether or not such shows should be permitted. While they do raise awareness of the animals in the public consciousness, the shows don't really spotlight the dangers they face when living in the wild (hunting, pollution, etc)... the shows simply make them look like another vehicle for entertainment... which may have the effect of objectifying the animals rather than invoking empathy.

These animals are trained to perform tricks and stunts for the pleasure on gawkers and onlookers, and the question is whether they should be or not. Many are wild animals, many are taken from their wild habitats and trained (we shall not here touch upon training methods, some of which may be suspect... closer to abuse than training).

How often do we see captive bears performing stunts for the onlooking crowd? Performing monkeys? There is often a hue and cry about animal abuse when we look at terrestrial animals... yet such can not as often be said regarding ocean-bound animals.

Close the shows, release those animals that would be able to return to the wild, and find other sources of entertainment that don't involve the use and abuse of animals.

Sea World should be praised for the education, rehab and rescue they provide. No FL park is more respectful of the military either. They always recognize the active and veteran members before their shows. I'm sure they will make adjustment because of the tragic event.

They're called "KILLER" whales for a reason. If the trainer wants to take their life in their hand, so be it. There should be security on hand with INSTANT tranquilizer guns for any future mishaps like this one.

Question: What do you think about trainers working with killer orcas, and do you think that Sea World is doing enough to protect their trainers?

To answer the question posed: People work with lions, tigers, plenty of dangerous animals everyday. If a person wants to do that with their life, so be it. Sea World can do nothing to protect a trainer from a killer whale, again, let me spell that for you-- k-i-l-l-e-r whale. They have no natural enemies, unless you count man, and while they are proven to be intelligent, if they want to snack on a trainer you will not stop it. A little math here--- whale: 12,000 pounds, trainer: (at best) 200 pounds.
Sea World can only update the trainers with UP TO DATE data on whale behavior etc.... and stress each day they are in a dangerous position and no one is making them do that job. Beyond that, well, not much you can do. Personally I'm amazed more trainers are not killed. I think the whale at some point has to get pissed off he is in a tank and what else is there to take it out on?

I went to the show a couple of years ago. The attack of the trainer came as a surprise because at that time it looked like everything was under control. How aware was this trainer of the possible danger is my question. If she was well warned and she went ahead anyway out of love for what she was doing there is very little we can say. However I would boycott the show from now on. These animals belong in the wild and if you want to see one go to a cruise and keep your fingers crossed. You may see one in its natural habitat, and that would beat any show on earth that is concocted by man. I know, not everybody has money for a cruise. Well, see a video or something similar, but I think the world would be a better place if we all would try to respect each other living space.

It is an inherent risk that comes with the job, the same as any training job with predators, Bulls, Buffalo, Horses, or any other animal. The incidents of animals causing serious injury or death to handlers is much higher with Elephants or Rodeo stock handlers.

There are risks people are willing to take for the love of the job and to think the Government can curtail or remove this risks is infringing on personal choices.

Flying in an airplane is inherently dangerous! Eventually, someone will be killed. Do we stop flying? No. We simply accept the risk.

Driving in NASCAR is inherently dangerous! Eventually, someone will be killed. Does that stop people from becomming NASCAR drivers? No. They know the risks and accept them.

Working with Killer Whales is no different. The trainers know the risks. In this case, the trainer knew that she was not allowed in the water with Tillikum. Why she decided to do what she did, we will never know. She loved her job, she loved the animals, she accepted the risks.

I don't understand why people think that since OSHA made the statement that "swimming with orcas is inherently dangerous and if someone hasn't been killed already it is only a matter of time" that people will stop working with Orcas. I believe that Sea World is responsible enough to be sure that Safety Procedures are in place to minimize the chances that something like this will ever happen again. Just like the Safety Procedures that airline companies follow diligently to minimize the chances that airplanes will crash.

The Orca is not free therefore the whale is angry.. He is dangerous, please put him back in the wild..

I think Sea World is totally in the right - you don't circuses shut down when a lion or elephant attack. And should we ban all domestic dogs as they have been know to turn on their owners - especially pit bulls. Many jobs come with a danger factor, what about race car drivers, stunt men, bomb squads, police and firemen. Just because their danger is not living and breatheing doesn't mean that they are at any less risk of losing their life if something goes wrong. What Sea World has done in bringing awareness to these beautiful creatures and getting people to care about them has probably saved them from being hunted and and becoming extinct. Many years ago when Marineland of the Pacific was open I volunteered to let their killer whale jump up and kiss me and it's still one of my most treasured photos. Since then I have donated many times to wildlife causes as a result of my love and respect for the animals.

Freedom is one thing, putting someone's life in danger, knowingly and willingly is something else! That's just bold faced negligence!

This is a free society and should remain that way, Government and their entities should not be involved in these issues. OSHA should only be involved when the event could cause possible harm to the general public that is attending the event. The participants are by choice being involved in the event and they and their employers should be using good common sense when being involved with wild animals. Unfortunetly our society has a facination with wild dangerous animals and think that they can be trained to do anything they want them to do but wild animals are unpredicitable. Case in point the tiger attack in the Sigfreid and Roy act, the chimp attack on the womans neighbor in Florida. If you want to look at wild animals go to a zoo where they are caged. Killer whales should be in a aquarium to be observed only, don't play with them. They don't play with sharks, seals etc. in their natural environment they kill and eat them. They may be intelligent animals but they are also naturally skilled hunters and stalkers. The people who play with wild animals live or (not live)with the possible consequences of their actions. For better or worse the government must stay out of free people's lives as long as they are not breaking the laws of the land.

Killer whales belong free in the ocean not in a small tank where they are turned into baffoons.
Let My Fishes Go!

Whether the wild animal is an Orca, a tiger, a lion or a chimpanzee it is just that--a wild animal. We are not talking about domesticated house cats, dogs and goldfish. Any human, whether they are a trainer or a spectator, should know that any time you subject yourself to being in contact with a wild animal (even those who have been trained), you are subjecting yourself to possible danger and bodily harm. The trainer knew of this danger and chose to interact with the Orca. Just like Sigfried and Roy chose to act with white tigers. Just like Gunther Gabel Williams chose for many years to act with lions and Bengal tigers. Just like Steve Irwin chose to interact with crocodiles and swim with sea creatures including sting rays. Don't blame the wild animal as their actions are nothing more than natural instinct. Don't blame SeaWorld, Ringling Brother's or Roy's Monkey Jungle if/when a wild creature attacks. If you are nieve enough to believe that a wild animal will never attack a human then I can only suggest that you do not visit the zoo, a circus, a crocodile farm an entertainment venue's such as SeaWorld or a circus--because you and your children might end up witnessing something you deem unpleasant.

It was discussed when sea world acquired Tilka, that he has killed before, and should be and was going to be used only for breading. We all know, management saw this whale not being used to the maximum profit capability, and the whale seemed to be ok swimming with people, so they decided to put him in the show. Given the opportunity I would want to be a whale trainer. And that is what this girl also wanted and loved. It’s not like she was working in a factory, or on an oil rig. Although someone did make a bad decision with this whale.

Is it fair that we keep these animals in captivity for our entertainment? No, I don't feel it is. They should be free in the oceans of the world. Not swimming in a little pool in Sea World doing tricks. Don't people get cranky and snap, then why shouldn't an animal feel the same? Sometimes they don't want to perform. Unlike people, they can't call in a sick or personal day. Set them free!

Just like any human, if your taking training in some for of body work and you are not compatible with the trainer, you will get irritated. Also for being such a massive mammal, i do not believe that it has enough room to go for a long swim. Maybe it is having some mid life crisis and needs to mate. A real good Movie to describe the feeling of animal is "The Weeping Camel" Capturing the emotions without words 5 start as far as I 'm concern.

Basically, the trainers know and fully understand the dangers. They understand these things much better than anyone at OSHA and much better than Sea World management. If, knowing the dangers the trainers wish to work with these animals, and if Sea World finds it beneficial to pay them to do so it is none of OSHA's business. It is simply a contract between a business and an individual and none of the government's business.

I believe that everyone has a choose in what occupation he/she want's to be in. If they choose working with Orcas that is there parogitive. I am sure they know the dangers in it. I choose to drive 50 miles one way to work knowing the longer I'm on the road the greater my chances of an auto accident goes up but that is my decision.

You people should leave animals in their space. Use profits to protect the unemployed, and the homeless, also to help impoverished people.

For me it is a no brainer.
Stop using Orca's as entertainment, and release them to their original habitat.
Is there no end to humans seeing any form of or creature in nature as sumething
to amuse themselves?

Any animal trainer knows the potential danger of working with wild animals in captivity but they do it anyway. So it hard to blame anyone for this unfortunate accident. But bad news makes news.

Every job has its risks: a professional soldier COULD be killed in battle, a pilot COULD be involved in a fatal plane crash, a farmer COULD fall into a combine, a killer whale trainer COULD be eaten by killer whales...

It is common knowledge that swimming with Killer Whales is risky and a trainer assumes that risk when they sign up for the job. Sea World is a business just like any other and has to do (and probably does) what they can to prevent risks. As with any animal training, we have two brains at work here: the trainer's and the animals. Who knows what an animal thinks?
Yes, it is a business -SO? Sea World HAS to reopen their business as soon as possible after an incident to remain solvent. Sea World also does good things other than entertain you and your children. They take in injured animals from the wild. They harvest scientific data.

This country has bigger fish to fry than to worry much about a job related accident. We have an economy to rebuild... lets focus on that.

I think that this amimal is very inteligent it had decided it was tired of being a trained munkey. I believe it made a decision to kill her so it wouldnt have to perform anymore. I also think once it kills it should be released. Not killed for killing because it is a Killer Whale. I have watched killer whales in several nature films and they do more than just think they calculate. that means they remeber set goals and exicute.

Its a flipping orca! Of course it will kill you, and should if you feel that man can control all things. In that tank, they are higher on the food chain than humans. Get a grip on reality people, you can not fully socialize a wild creature. Stop having performances where the train needs to be in the tank with the animal or better yet... stop caging up wildlife!

Let the whales go!!!!!!!!!
Stop trying to control natures beautiful creatures. That was only one warning of what's to come of man if he does not stop. Just stop!!!!!!!!!

If you choose a career like Killer Whale trainer, then I think you should be responsible for that choice. I think Sea World should have you sign a contract that in the event that something happens to you, you take full responsibility and they have no liability. You know what you are signing up for, and if you don't, then there are bigger issues!

BEEN TO SEA WORLD AND NEVER GO THERE AGAIN. ONLY THE USA MILITARY SHOULD TRAIN WHALES.

A wild animal is just that, wild and should be left to live in the wild. You can't put a killer whale in a teacup size pool and expect it to he bappy or any animal taken from it natural habitat for that matter. As for those whose choose this as their profession then you should know the dangers ahead of time. But really, let them live as nature meant for them to live ~ free. Just as we all want to live our lives.

It's very sad that the problem is always a matter of money from the owners, because these big companies dont care at all about the safety of there trainer, and the killer whale is an always will be a wild animal and theres nothing we can do about it, and for the owners we will never change them an the way they take to make money, they dont care which way they use to make that money even on the life of the best trainer that he could be.

This keeping of large whales in bath tubs for the entertainment of the masses looks and feels like the freak show at the circus. Midgets, bearded ladies, half man/well hung, and all the rest. Why don't we throw infidels to the lions any more? If they had a survival show where everyone had a gun and the one who comes out alive is the winner would win the Nielsen Ratings for sure.....come to think of it, isn't that Afghanistan?

MMMMMMMMM I WOULD HAVE ATE THE HOT FEMALE

I could care less if a gold fish or a Killer Whale is kept in captivity. The concern here should be that seaworld or any company has the power to have things taken out of reports that might make them look bad. The company that gave in to this pressure should be sanctioned.

As for the Dead worker, my heart goes out to her family. But I enjoy watching the shows and she knew the dangers when she took the job. I have been a deputy sheriff since 1990, if I get killed in the line of duty is the county or sheriff responsible? NO! I knew the dangers of the job, before I got hired.

They are called Killer Whales for a reason. I have seen footage of Killer Whales in the wild and they actually play with their prey before killing it. I think the trainers of Orcas, start thinking the whale has human qualities, because they are very intelligent. Their instinct is to hunt and kill. Lets get real! Chimpanzee tears a womens face off, White Tiger kills owner /trainer,pet Boa eats baby,Hybrid wolves get loose and kill pet dog(this happened in my town)etc.etc.etc!Wild animals will never be completely tamed because of their inate instincts.

Trainers who work with killer Orcas are there because they have a love for the animal. It is just a matter of time until an incident happens. In order for Sea World to have a show, the trainers have to get in the water, so it is up to the trainer to say "no".
Unfortunately, they probably don't get a paycheck if they refuse.