Today in History - February 24: Tourists watch killer whale show turn to tragedy
The orca whale Tilikum fatally dragged trainer Dawn Brancheau under water at SeaWorld Orlando on February 24, 2010. AP
Tragedy struck at a Florida theme park on February 24, 2010, when a performing Orca whale fatally dragged its trainer under the water in front of horrified tourists.
Dawn Brancheau had been lying on her stomach on a cement slab in shallow water, nose-to-nose with the 5500kg orca Tilikum at the close of a Dine with Shamu show at SeaWorld Orlando when it grabbed her.
She was pulled underwater as staff threw nets to catch the giant whale, and onlookers threw food into the water to distract it.
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The orca whale Tilikum and trainer Dawn Brancheau moments before her death on February 24, 2010. AP
It was 30 minutes before Tilikum was moved to another SeaWorld pool and the body of Brancheau could be freed.
Tilikum, the then-largest orca held in captivity, was involved in two other deaths of people before Brancheau was killed.
SeaWorld bosses paused the orca shows at their parks for three days before they resumed - but without trainers getting in the water.
The shows were worth hundreds of millions of dollars and drew thousands of visitors to the park every year.
Animal rights advocates criticised the theme park giant, arguing Tilikum was snared in a business model that led only to tragedy.
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The death of Dawn Brancheau triggered calls for SeaWorld to change its orca shows. AP
They demanded the orcas and other marine mammals at SeaWorld parks should be released into sea pens or coastal sanctuaries.
Three years after the death of Brancheau, the documentary Blackfish helped turn public opinion against keeping orcas in captivity.
The show argued that killer whales in captivity become more aggressive toward humans and each other.
Because of it, several entertainers pulled out of planned performances at SeaWorld parks and animal rights activists increased their demonstrations outside the parks.
Hit with falling profits and dipping attendances at its theme parks, SeaWorld changed its orca shows from displays of theatrical tricks to "educational encounter" presentations .
SeaWorld in 2016 also scrapped its controversial orca breeding program.
The following year Tilikum died from a bacterial infection.
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