Episode 51: SeaWorld and the Death of Dawn Brancheau

The Dark Oak

For decades Sea World has been committed to supporting environmental conservation by providing financial and scientific support to organizations focused on animal rescue and rehabilitation, conservation education, habitat protection and species research. Additionally, the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has donated more than $19 million in support of animal conservation projects on all seven continents across the globe.

Despite all the good, animal lovers have been asking for years "Is Sea World doing the right thing by their killer whales?"

After one such whale, Tilikum, caused the death of his highly respected trainer, Dawn Brancheau, during a 'Dining with Shamu Show' in 2010, the dangers of keeping such wild and unpredictable animals in captivity were brought to light. The public turned up the heat on the theme park when shortly after it was revealed that Tilikum was involved in two other human deaths.

With the release of controversial films like 'Blackfish", Sea World took a hit and to this day has never fully recovered. We are animal lovers (and rescuers) here at The Dark Oak, so we set out to cut through any previously misreported facts and get to the truth...for the whales!

Sources:

Whale Facts. (2021, October 2). Whale facts and Information. https://whalefacts.org

Orcas VS humans – inherently wild. (n.d.). https://inherentlywild.co.uk/orcas-vs-humans/

International Marine Mammal Project. (2017, August 2). SeaWorld’s breeding and killing of orcas. https://savedolphins.eii.org/news/seaworlds-breeding-and-killing-of-orcas#:~:text=Under%20pressure%20from%20environmental%20and,longer%20breed%20orcas%20in%20captivity.

10 things You Didn’t know about SeaWorld - SeaWorld of Hurt. (2018, April 20). SeaWorld of Hurt. https://www.seaworldofhurt.com/features/ten-things-didnt-know-seaworld/

Roberts, S. (2023, March 22). SeaWorld Fun facts that will make your day. Orlando Informer. https://orlandoinformer.com/blog/seaworld-orlando/seaworld-fun-facts/

Home | SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. (n.d.). https://swbg-conservationfund.org/

SeaWorld’s “69 Reasons you Shouldn’t Believe Blackfish” – My Rebuttal – Inherently Wild. (n.d.). https://inherentlywild.co.uk/seaworlds-69-reasons-you-shouldnt-believe-blackfish-my-rebuttal/

Temp, M., & Weisberg, L. (2024, April 4). Timeline: How SeaWorld grew from a 22-acre park to a nearly 200-acre tourist destination. San Diego Union-Tribune. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2024-04-04/timeline-how-seaworld-grew-from-a-22-acre-park-to-a-nearly-200-acre-tourist-destination

Fisheries, N. (2022, January 4). Killer Whale. NOAA. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/killer-whale

Fate of orcas in captivity - Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA. (2024, May 22). Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA. https://us.whales.org/our-goals/end-captivity/orca-captivity/

Killer Whale Education and Conservation Program | SeaWorld Orlando. (n.d.). https://seaworld.com/orlando/commitment/killer-whales/#:~:text=Killer%20whales%20at%20SeaWorld%20help,last%20generation%20at%20our%20park.

Nature, W. S. P. |. B. T. (2024, May 20). Tilikum: The Whale Who Rebelled - The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature. The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature. https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/whales/tilikum-the-whale-who-rebelled/

Heger, E. (2023, October 10). One-third of the world’s captive orcas are in the US, and no one can agree on what to do with them. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/captive-orcas-seaworld-should-they-be-released-sea-pen-2023-10

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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep