Tilikum the Killer Whale is Facing Death
The Popular SeaWorld attraction, Tilikum the killer whale, is nearing death. Scientist and SeaWorld veterinarian, Scott Gearheart, have diagnosed the killer whale with an unrelatable lung infection, according to the HuffingtonPost.com
The infection was caused by a type of bacteria that SeaWorld has not disclosed to the public. Scott Gearhart, reported that it is, “a type of bacteria that is found in a variety of species, including wild cetaceans,” without naming the pathogen.
“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,” Gearhart reported. “We have not found a cure for this disease at this point.”
SeaWorldofHurt.com, says that even before being at SeaWorld, Tilikum’s’ life had a tragic past. Tilikum was two years old when he was captured near Iceland in November 1983. He was kept for about a year in a cement holding tank at Hafnarfjörður Marine Zoo, near Reykjavík, Iceland while he was on the wait-list for a marine park. All he could do while he waited for a year was swim in small circles and float at the surface of the water. Most killer whales in the wild could swim a hundred miles a day, reported by the HuffingtonPost.com.
Finally he was transferred to SeaLand, a water park in British Columbia, Canada. His new tank was only a 100-foot-by-50-foot pool that was only 35 feet deep. What was worse is that he had to share it with two other female orcas, Haida and Nootka. The two other dominant females regularly attacked Tilikum, according to SeaWorldofHurt.com. The killer whale was forced to perform every hour, eight times a day, seven days a week. When the park finally closed down for the night, the three orcas were all crammed together for more than 14 hours until the park re-opened the next morning.
After a show on February 21, 1991, trainer Keltie Byrne fell into the pool with all three orcas. Keltie was then pulled to the bottom of the tank by Tilikum and was then tossed around by the other two until she drowned. It took the employes over two hours to take her body out of the tan, reported by TheDodo.com. SeaLand put Tilikum up for sale as if nothing had happened and closed down the park.
That’s when SeaWorld came in, in 1992, according to TheDodo.com. After hearing about a large bull orca was being on the market, they didn’t hesitate to buy. The quickly bought him for the breeding program, giving little thought to his past records. Tilikum’s genes now are held in 54% of the orcas at SeaWorld, according SeaWorldCares.com.
His life from then to now isn’t much of an improvement, according to Heather Murphy, an anti-captivity activist from central Florida. She went to visit Tilikum and said, “He was in the med pool, and he was barely moving,” Murphy said.
“The entire time I was there, he stayed at the gate looking out. There were other whales hanging out at the gate with him on the other side. It’s all very sad.” Stated Heather Murphy.
Cissy Bai • Apr 14, 2016 at 9:56 pm
Hope they would soonly find the solution, if not ,hope the poor little enjoy his last time…
Nice writing, thanks you guys.
Joshua • Apr 14, 2016 at 3:13 pm
poor Tilikum :'( I just wish that they stop capturing them. Great Article!
Joshua Sheldon • Apr 10, 2016 at 8:58 pm
If it is not curable, I hope Tilikum’s final months are sweet and peaceful. I also think that everyone all over the world should not capture animals to keep in zoo’s or aquariums. We should study them in the wild if we need to.
Anyway, enough ranting from me! Great article you two! Thanks a lot! Keep it up!
Josh 🙂
kathryn gerberding • Apr 8, 2016 at 3:04 pm
Poor Tilikum, I’m sad he got sick. Good article, very informative.
Sara Bridges • Apr 8, 2016 at 2:47 pm
Oh no! what happens if the 56% of the killer whales that have Tillikum’s genes in them also get the lung disease? Hopefully they will find a cure before any other orcas get sick.
Anyways, good article.
Kayla Goldstein • Apr 8, 2016 at 10:57 am
This article was very well written and very informative. I learned a lot about what happens to the killer whales at seaworld and sealand. Poor Tilikum, I hope they find a cure for his disease.
Rachel Lassalle • Apr 8, 2016 at 10:49 am
This was a very interesting article! Although it is very sad and unfortunate how SeaWorld treats their animals, it was a great article. Good work!
Rema Nawfal • Apr 7, 2016 at 10:28 pm
Man, that’s really unfortunate. Hopefully theyou find a cure soon…
Great article you two.
Eloise Barret--Legrand • Apr 7, 2016 at 6:00 pm
I personally think they should not capture wild animals at all! Great job !
Bryana Zapatka • Apr 7, 2016 at 4:09 pm
Thank you for informing us. Poor Tilikum. 🙁