An orca involved in the fatal incident with his trainer had previously been implicated in another killing before the tragic events of 2010.
Since the 1960s, killer whales have been kept in captivity and have become iconic attractions at places like SeaWorld and similar aquariums.
Orcas can live from 50 to 90 years, which means they can spend many years in captivity.
Tilikum was a noteworthy example of a killer whale that spent most of his life in captivity. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 35, having spent 34 years in resorts like SeaWorld.
Tilikum had a particularly troubled past, which was explored in the documentary Blackfish.
The impactful film delves into the contentious captivity of killer whales and the associated risks for both humans and the animals, with a specific focus on Tilikum.
This large orca was captured in Iceland in 1983 and then transferred to Sealand of the Pacific near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, not long after.
Reports indicate that Tilikum was housed in a tank with two larger female orcas that regularly attacked him.
The aggression extended to Keltie Lee Byrne, a 20-year-old trainer at the facility, after she accidentally fell into their tank.
One of the orcas dragged Byrne underwater, and the three whales reportedly attacked the young trainer and prevented her rescue attempts.
Following her tragic death, Sealand of the Pacific eventually closed and sold its killer whales.
In 1992, Tilikum was purchased by SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida.
It was at SeaWorld that Tilikum’s aggressive behavior resurfaced. In 1999, Daniel P. Dukes, a frequent trespasser, allegedly entered Tilikum’s tank and drowned.
Dukes’ body was found severely mutilated by the whale, but his death was officially ruled as an accidental drowning.
In the following year, Tilikum was involved in the death of his trainer Dawn Brancheau, who was dragged into the water by the orca.
Reports suggest that Brancheu was pulled in by her ponytail.
The exact reason for Tilikum’s attack on his trainer remains unknown, as they were believed to have had ‘a great relationship.’
“We’ll never know why Tilikum made that choice to grab Dawn and pull her into the pool,” said John Hargrove, a former senior trainer at SeaWorld.
“He had a great relationship with her and she had a great relationship with him. I do believe that he loved her and I know that she loved him.”
Brancheau’s official cause of death was determined to be blunt force injury.