That is so sad!
Here's what we read in the papers today:
Feb 26, 2010
Killer whale to stay in park
MIAMI - SEAWORLD said on Thursday a five-tonne killer whale that attacked and killed its trainer in front of horrified onlookers will remain in its programme, amid raging debate on whether to keep such animals in captivity.
Grisly new details emerged over how Tilikum the orca - already linked to two other human deaths since 1991 - grabbed his veteran trainer by her ponytail and dragged her down into his tank without warning during a midday show on Wednesday.
He was so aggressive that rescuers could not immediately jump in and assist the experienced trainer Dawn Brancheau, officials said. Instead, trainers guided the massive black-and-white bull orca toward a smaller pool and lifted him out of the water by a large scale or platform to free Brancheau's dead body from its jaws.
In a grim twist, the smaller pool was apparently the same spot where the naked body of Daniel Dukes was found draped dead over Tilikum's back in July 1999 after the man sneaked into SeaWorld after hours to swim with the animals.
Even before the latest deadly attack, trainers were barred from swimming in the water with Tilikum, standing on platforms instead. SeaWorld Orlando's only mature breeding male, he was also often kept in a smaller tank away from the park's other orcas.
The Orange County Medical Examiner's office said Brancheau, who had 16 years of experience working with orcas, likely died from multiple traumatic injuries and drowning, with all evidence pointing to a tragic incident. -- AFP