Tilikum, the SeaWorld orca famous for being the protagonist of the documentary Blackfish, dedicated to marine animals in captivity, has died.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himSeaWorld's captive orca is dead
She's dead Tilikum, the SeaWorld orca famous for being the protagonist of the documentary Blackfish, dedicated to marine animals in captivity.
Already last March the killer whale was in danger of life due to a 'bacterial lung infection which was resistant to treatment. The cause of death has not yet been precisely determined.
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Tilikum died in Orlando last Friday. The orca has inspired a movement for release of animals in captivity. Her has been a long battle against disease, including the bacterial infection that struck her a few months ago.
His life changed the international outlook of what happens in the marine park industry. It is unfair to confine animals that should live free in an aquarium. The consequences of captivity can affect humans. Tilikum during his life in captivity caused the drowning of three people.
L’orca had been captured in Iceland in 1983, when he was two years old. She has spent her entire life in captivity, most of the time at SeaWorld in Orlando.
Tilikum became infamous when on February 24, 2010 caused the death of his trainer. Previously, in 1999 and 1990, it had resulted in the drowning of two other people, including a trainer.
From that moment the trainers began to be afraid of her, but perhaps by then everyone should have begun to reflect on the living conditions of animals in captivity and the consequences for humans.
The story of Tilikum makes us understand what happens when a free-predator whale is transformed into a captive animal to become a tourist attraction.
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Now that the whale is gone. the only hope for other animals is that his story helps make a difference in the world of marine animals. In recent years, many boycott campaigns against SeaWorld have been organized and gradually the park will decide to limit the entertainment events that see animals as protagonists. At SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, animal shows will continue until 2019, while at SeaWorld in San Diego, the latest show of this kind has already arrived.
The hope is that Tilikum is the last killer whale destined to die at SeaWorld, where unfortunately animals such as penguins, dolphins and sea lions are still prisoners in an environment unsuitable for their species.
Marta Albè
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