SeaWorld says killer whale Tilikum in poor health

Shamu show star 'lethargic'

ORLANDO, Fla. – SeaWorld said Tuesday that Tillikum, its 12,000-pound killer whale, is not doing well.

“We are saddened to report that over the past few weeks, Tilikum's behavior has become increasingly lethargic, and the SeaWorld veterinary and animal care teams are concerned that his health is beginning to deteriorate,” SeaWorld wrote on its “SeaWorld Cares” website.

Until recently, Tilikum occasionally performed at Shamu Stadium, while continuing to battle a respiratory illness.

"So based on his health and demeanor, there are certain things that might be fun,” said Daniel Richardville, animal training supervisor, in SeaWorld's web video. “So if he's ready to do a show and get people wet, I'm excited to do that with him. If he's more excited to get a back rub and play with his toys, guess what, we're going to be doing that as well."

In SeaWorld's video, veterinarian Dr. Scott Gearhart explained Tilikum's respiratory condition and treatment.

“The species that we found in Tilikum is a type of bacteria that is found in a variety of species including wild cetaceans and for that he receives a number of medications on a daily basis,” said Dr. Gearhart. “We use a variety of oral antibiotics and anti-fungals that the trainers painstakingly everyday several times a day will administer in the fish."

"I wish I could say I was tremendously optimistic about Tilikum and his future but he has a disease which is chronic and progressive and at some point might cause his death," said Dr. Gearhart. "We have not found a cure for this disease at this point."

PETA, among other critics, has repeatedly called on SeaWorld to end its captivity of killer whales, especially after Tilikum dragged trainer Dawn Brancheau into the water in front of park guests in 2010. Brancheau died of drowning and blunt force trauma.

"The sickness at SeaWorld is with its management, which has deliberately caused Tilikum-the subject of 'Blackfish,' the damning documentary about SeaWorld, to suffer immensely by confining him to a small concrete tank for decades, causing him to succumb to mental illness that has resulted in aggression and now to some incurable illness," said PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk in a statement to News 6.

SeaWorld said if Tilikum had been released into the wild, he would have died long ago.

"If Tilikum would have shown up with this disease in the wild there's no doubt in my mind he's been gone a long time ago," said Gearhart. "We take blood at least one time a week sometimes twice to monitor what inflammation going on. Blood gives us a really nice picture into his health status."

The 23-feet-long orca whale was captured near Iceland in November 1983 and, besides Brancheau, has been linked to two other deaths.

In 1997, 27-year-old Daniel Dukes of South Carolina climbed into Tilikum's tank after hours. Duke's body was found floating in the tank. Trainers said Tilikum might have been shocked by the unexpected invader.

In 1991, when a 20-year-old trainer slipped into a tank in British Columbia, Tilikum and two other whales tossed her around and the trainer drowned.

"When SeaWorld feels that it must make a statement about Tilly's ill health, PETA bets that it's anticipating someone is about to blow the whistle about his illness or reveal that he's dying and that the people who have exploited him to line their pockets all these years know that," said Newkirk. "If Tilikum never sees the ocean again, after being stolen from it 30 years ago, his blood will be on SeaWorld's hands and on the walls of his miserable concrete prison tank. He was torn away from his home and family in the wild at the age of 3, and he grew so massive in tiny tanks that he could not escape the aggressive, incompatible orcas who would leave him torn up and bloodied. The constant stress and deprivation have driven him to kill three human beings and to wear his teeth to the nubs from chewing on the underwater bars of his prison. Since SeaWorld can no longer capture orcas from the wild, it has used Tilikum as its chief breeding machine, churning out more performers for a miserable life that no one would ever willingly choose. It's time for SeaWorld to move the orcas to sanctuaries, where they could enjoy a more natural life."

SeaWorld said Tilikum has gotten the best care possible.

"Since Tilikum became a part of SeaWorld's family 23 years ago, he has received the best in marine mammal health care and life enrichment available for killer whales - including a focus on his physical health, mental engagement and social activity with other whales," said SeaWorld on its website. "Like many older animals facing significant health issues, his condition may continue to fluctuate, and we will keep his friends and fans updated here on SeaWorld Cares."


About the Author:

Erik von Ancken anchors and reports for News 6 and is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist in the prestigious and coveted "On-Camera Talent" categories for both anchoring and reporting.

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