Buzz
Tilikum, featured in the 2013 documentary "Blackfish," was a captive orca, similar to the one shown here. Kevin Schafer / Getty ImagesKnown as 'killer whales' due to their role as apex predators, orcas in the wild form close-knit social groups while hunting sharks, seals, dolphins, and even other whales.
Then there's Tilikum, the most infamous killer whale of them all. When stories of orcas attacking humans are discussed, Tilikum’s tale is often the most well-known.
Tilikum’s Early Years
Tilikum, affectionately known as Tilly, was a male orca whale (Orcinus orca) captured off the coast of Iceland in 1983 at the age of approximately 2 years.
Following his capture, the young orca spent about a year at the Hafnarfjördur Marine Zoo in southern Iceland before being transferred to Sealand of the Pacific in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Sealand of the Pacific
While at Sealand of the Pacific, Tilikum fathered his first calf, Kyuquot, who now resides at SeaWorld San Antonio.
On February 20, 1991, Tilikum — alongside Kyuquot’s mother, Haida II, and another Sealand orca, Nootka IV — tragically submerged 20-year-old Sealand trainer Keltie Bryne after she fell into the whale pool. At the time, Haida II was pregnant with Kyuquot.
Bryne's tragic death was the first recorded instance of orcas in captivity killing a human.
After Kyuquot's birth, the two older female orcas began to show aggression toward Tilikum, forcing him to be isolated in the medical pool. In 1992, Tilikum was relocated to SeaWorld Orlando, and shortly thereafter, Sealand of the Pacific closed its doors.
Tilikum’s Time at SeaWorld Orlando
Tilikum spent the rest of his life at SeaWorld Orlando, where he fathered 20 more calves and performed in some of the park's most renowned shows.
Death of Daniel Dukes
In July 1999, Tilikum was linked to another heartbreaking death. The body of 27-year-old Daniel Dukes was discovered in Tilikum's tank after Dukes had hidden at SeaWorld after hours. As no one witnessed the event, the circumstances surrounding Dukes’s death remain unclear.
Death of SeaWorld Trainer Dawn Brancheau
In February 2010, following a "Dine With Shamu" show, Tilikum tragically killed his trainer, 40-year-old Dawn Brancheau. While giving Tilikum his usual post-show massage, the orca dragged her into the pool and submerged her forcefully.
The death of Dawn Brancheau resulted in new regulations, banning SeaWorld trainers from having close physical contact with captive orcas. After the incident, trainers at SeaWorld Orlando continued working with Tilikum but used high-pressure hoses to massage him.
Tilikum’s Passing and His Legacy
Tilikum was featured in the 2013 documentary "Blackfish," which raised concerns about the impact of captivity on large marine mammals, such as killer whales, and their mental well-being.
"Blackfish" prompted widespread scrutiny of SeaWorld's treatment of captive orcas and sparked debates about whether orcas should be held in captivity at all. In response to the film, SeaWorld San Diego discontinued its orca performances.
In 2016, SeaWorld revealed that Tilikum’s health was deteriorating due to a bacterial lung infection, which was expected to lead to his death. Tilikum passed away in 2017 at SeaWorld Orlando, at the age of approximately 35.
