After living for 25 years in captivity at SeaWorld, Tilikum, the orca whale chronicled in the 2013 documentary Blackfish, has died, the park announced today.
“We’re saddened to announce the passing of Tilikum, a beloved member of the SeaWorld family for 25 years,” SeaWorld
tweeted on Friday morning, adding a
link to a full statement on the park’s SeaWorld Cares site.
Tilikum was “surrounded by the trainers, care staff and veterinarians that provided him around-the-clock world-class care,” SeaWorld says, adding that the whale had faced “some very serious health issues.”
The world learned the name Tilikum in 2010, when he dragged trainer Dawn Brancheau under the water and held her there, killing her, in front of Orlando park visitors during a Shamu performance in 2010. That tragedy was at the center of Blackfish, a film that took a critical look at how marine mammals are treated at SeaWorld, and how a life in captivity might have contributed to the circumstances of Brancheau’s death.
The response to Blackfish set off a chain of events that led to several changes at SeaWorld, including a campaign called “Ask SeaWorld,” and a pledge to $10 million on orca research and expand the whale environment at the park.
