SeaWorld Trainer’s Autopsy Report Indicates Tilly Wasn’t Playing

Although a judge ruled that the video footage showing Tilly the orca attacking SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau won’t be made public, Brancheau’s autopsy report was released recently–and it sure doesn’t sound like Tilly was playing when he grabbed her by the ponytail and pulled her under water.

According to the six-page report, Brancheau’s left arm and part of her scalp were ripped off, she suffered spinal cord injuries, her ribs were broken, as were bones in her legs, arms, and face, she had bruises and cuts all over her body, and, ultimately, she was drowned.

This sounds more like an act of rage than an attempt at “play” gone wrong. As PETA President Ingrid Newkirk says, “These were not love bites, but the vented fury of an angry and frustrated being who has been deprived of everything in life: family, friends, freedom—all for the sake of human profit and a few giggles.”

Orcas may not have the same sense of revenge that humans do—and Tilly may not have premeditated the attack—but it’s not unusual for animals in circuses, zoos, travelling exhibits, and amusement parks to injure or kill the people who deprive them of everything that is natural and important to them. And can you really blame them?

As I pointed in my previous post about the attack at SeaWorld, Tilly’s action shouldn’t have come as any surprise. Not only was he involved in two other deaths, the tank he was kept in was a virtual bathtub in comparison to his natural ocean home. (Performance artist Brian Feldmann even held an 18-hour tub-in to symbolize the 18 long years that Tilly has spent in captivity.)

While Tilly still has an innate instinct to kill, he is a mere shadow of an orca—unable to swim for miles and miles, hunt, choose a mate, socialize with other members of a pod, and communicate via echolocation.

The only thing that people learn by visiting a SeaWorld theme park is that it is acceptable to yank marine mammals from their natural habitats and imprison them in manmade environments that bare little resemblance to their ocean homes.

If you haven’t already done so, please sign the Care2 petition asking SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment President Jim Atchison to relocate Tilly to a sea pen.. After nearly three decades in captivity, it would be unwise to release him directly into the open ocean, but a sea pen would allow him to enjoy a more natural environment.

Read more: animal welfare

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Christine L.

10:37PM PDT on Apr 2, 2011

It was a tragic incident and it is horrible that someone was killed. But we must not forget, Tilly is a wild animal that should not be in a tank performing. She should be free in the ocean!! Maybe Tilly did mean to kill that poor woman. If so, set her free!! Maybe she didn't, even so, still set her free! Tilly needs to live out the rest of her life in freedom. She has spent too many years in captivity and deserves to be let go. FREE TILLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! While you're at it, free all the other Orcas you have in captivity and all the dolphins too!!!!!!!!

send a green star

Anna B.

10:18AM PST on Jan 22, 2011

Alexander T. - " . . . I point out that animals do not possess sentience, therefor it does not make sense to talk about them as if they think like humans.

I also think it's a laugh and a half that a lot of you bring up the atrocities of human history while blatantly ignoring the capacity for cruelty and viciousness in wild animals."

Animals do not obey the moral imperative. They do not have the ability to choose between good and evil, right and wrong. Therefore, to talk about the "capacity for cruelty and viciousness in wild animals" is patent nonsense. A living being can only be "cruel and vicious" if it has the ability to think and reflect (which you claim that animals do not) and to CHOOSE to be thus! Surely you can understand this?

Alexandra S.

2:24PM PST on Jan 21, 2011

I think that whales are extremely intelligent beings and thus have a consciousness, and are fully aware of what's happening around and to them. Tilly must feel like(please, don't get mad); Natascha Kampusch. Being held in captivity for years. Only difference is that Tilly is still there, and maybe won't live to see the sea again.

Marcie S.

5:13AM PST on Jan 21, 2011

after being in captivity for so long it was bound to happen. I would have gone crazy too, animals should not be held in captivity. a small tank is nothing compared to a huge ocean

Wanda K.

3:36PM PST on Dec 19, 2010

large marine mammals should not be kept in these inadequate and unnatural conditions.Those people who go to see these animals `performing` need to think about what they are helping to perpetuate. Boycott all aquaria where dolphins and orca are imprisoned. They are a monstrosity.

Cindy C.

11:27AM PDT on May 31, 2010

I DONOT BLAME TILLY EITHER AND BLIMEY THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE THEM IN CAPTIVITY AT ALL.

Luis J.

10:18AM PDT on May 3, 2010

The people ever forget that tilly is a wild animal and itts a matter of tiem that i t happenes, well if i was ever in jail, for more play and work that i do i ever thin to scape and the stress let me in the capacity to kill to anyone.

Past Member .

2:06AM PDT on May 3, 2010

Noted and sign !

Janel V.

8:00AM PDT on Apr 26, 2010

While it is nice to see animals up close,I have a problem with places ;like zoos and Sea world. These are not natural habitats for animals,and they need to just be left alone,in the wild. It is what God intended when HE created them and it is the way it should be now.The way animals are treated on this Earth breaks my heart. Testing on them,making them live in captivity,abuse, cruelty,torture, killing. There are days I am ashamed to be a human being.

Leon V.

6:38AM PDT on Apr 25, 2010

Alexander T.,

I can't help it to write another contribution. Ever heard of Ervin Laszlo? I can recommand his work. Just like Sheldrake he found out that his dog in advance knew when he was going home. Still I'm sure you don't really know about the results of Sheldrake's and Baxter's work.
Finally, this is a nice statement: "As long as a belief system is held as 'real', reality is governed by the rules that are mandated by that belief system."
Next time I'll tell you where I found it and also whose statement it is. You will be amazed......
You use the word 'supernatural', I don't because supernatural things don't exist! Everything that exists is natural, even when humans don't understand how it is possible.