In 2010, Tilikum killed trainer Dawn Brancheau in front of park guests by dragging her to the bottom of his pool Kelli Bender is the Pets Editor at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2013.

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Dawn Brancheau was one of SeaWorld's most experienced trainers before she was mauled to death by Tilikum the killer whale in front of a packed audience. The 40-year-old trainer was set to put on a ...

Blackfish' tells the shockingly true story of a SeaWorld orca who caused the deaths of several people during captivity ...

The film directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite was first released in 2013 but is still described as the 'best ever' ...

SeaWorld Orlando now faces a fine after a trainer was injured while interacting with an orca whale in September 2024, ...

(CNN)-- Killer whales can weigh up to 22,000 pounds, and may be as long as 32 feet, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They often travel in groups of up to 50, being ...

Tilikum, SeaWorld’s largest killer whale, weighing over 12,000 pounds, killed one of his trainers in February, as spectators watched with horror. He grabbed his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, a veteran ...