In 1991, a 20-year-old trainer named Keltie Byrne tragically lost her life after she fell into a tank containing three captive orcas at Sealand of the Pacific. The whales, one of which was Tilikum, dragged her beneath the surface, hindering any attempts to rescue her.
Tilikum was subsequently implicated in two additional fatalities, one of which was trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010. This incident sparked significant public outrage and inspired the documentary Blackfish. As a result of the backlash, SeaWorld was compelled to terminate its orca performances and breeding initiatives.
Tilikum passed away in 2017; however, his narrative continues to represent the risks and moral considerations associated with the confinement of wild animals.
