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Subscribe to RSSNewly-released video, which was shot in 2006 and now being used as evidence in an investigation, shows a female orca whale dragging a trainer deep underwater as he struggles for life. The trainer survived. TODAY's Hoda Kotb reports.
A video revealing an incident between a killer whale and its trainerat SeaWorld was released Tuesday during the SeaWorld v US Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis trial.
In November 2006, trainer Kenneth Peters, 39, was bitten and held underwater several timesby a 7,000-pound killer whale during a show at SeaWorld's San Diego park. The 28-year old female named Kasatka bit Peters' feet and took him to the bottom of the pool for about a minute. Peters suffered a broken foot and puncture wounds in the attack.
For more, visit NBCSanDiego.com
The video shows Peters nearly drowning twice as the whale dragged him down to the bottom of the tank by his foot.
The 17-foot-long orca had attacked Peters two other times, in 1993 and 1999.
The video was obtained with a Freedom of Information Act by David Kirby, the author of the recently released book “Near Death at SeaWorld.”
In February 2010, a trainer at Orlando's SeaWorld park was killed after the whale drowned her when she slipped and fell in its tank.
SeaWorld San Diego released the following statement:
"This incident was well documented and thoroughly covered by the news media in 2006. This video clearly shows the trainer’s remarkable composure and the skillful execution of an emergency response plan, both of which helped result in a successful outcome with minor injuries. It should be noted that CalOSHA did not issue any citations to SeaWorld as a result of this incident. SeaWorld’s trainer returned to work shortly after this incident and remains a member of the team at Shamu Stadium to this day."
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Almost no different than a circus, using animals for our own selfish enjoyment, little do we know, instincts run deep and when an incident like this happens its always the animals fault.
Orcas should be out in the wild and not held captive for our amusement.
Are we are sure she was trying to kill him? In the video she comes up with him and he is able to swim away. If she really wanted him dead he would be. The water is her element she could have swam after him, bit his leg off, these animals kill great whites and other whales in the wild. It looks like she was playing with him, and humans make crap toys, we break so easily. As great as it would be to release them back in the wild some won't survive and if you stop going to places like seaworld they no longer have money to care for the animals. Oh, and there is a horror movie featuring on orca, 1977 Orca, don't kill their mate or they will come after you.
Here is a dose of reality... If that Orca wanted to really attack that trainer, the trainer would be dead. It actually appears more playful than violent from the video. The Orca let him out of the pool, if this was an attack, that wouldn't have happened. It was simply play the Orca way, and unfortunately the human body wasnt built for it. The whale should NOT be punished or looked upon as the bad guy. Seriously.
I don't have the answers, anyway not one that everyone would agree on, but I do think that all creatures have some amount of intelligence, and I also believe that in each group of creatures (mammal or not), that there can be some that are rogue, including humans. So when we see this sort of reaction from a captive creature, it needs to be released or euthanized. In humans, as in the current case in Aurora, Colorado, I would say euthanize. But as I said before, not all of my answers will be popular, however, it is America, and we are all entitled to our own opinions.
euthanized!!!!!!!!!! why???? this orca did ask to be capture and be use as a entertainment, so easy to say just kill it... that;s what's wrong with humans.......
If you noticed, I said OR RELEASED, I didn't say it had to be euthanized. However, some humans who murder should be!
Well, No animal should be use for entertainment...... animals should be in the wild, no in pools, I went to sea world first time ever last year and that was my last, that's sad very sad......
great PC argument; the truth, however is that kids who go to zoos and aquariums are less likely to be cruel to animals, and more likely to be conservation minded. Yeah, I've seen whales in the wild, but a lot of people don't have the money to see animals in their real environment.
I don't think it should be euthanized for this behavior. Like I said before this does not look like an attack, it looks like she was playing with him. He works with an animal that can kill him inadvertly and must know the risk of his job. Have you seen what these animals can do to their prey? He did not even lose his foot I don't think she was attacking him, but as smart as she is she may to realize how fragile her human toy is.
killer whales are not pets! they don't belong in aquariums! killer whales are not something to be trained to do tricks with. you go bob!
The article said this whale had KILLED someone else? Time to euthanize or turn loose!
That trainer was from a different park so different Orca.
It's a freaking killer whale - what do you expect? In his wetsuit, he's vaguely seal-looking and the whale probably wanted some variety in his diet!
Orcas are beautiful creatures fill of courage & life. That should be respected, and they deserve to live in the seas wild and free and with our love. They don't need to be on parade in some zoo or aquarium, they want to be free and left alone. They attack because they are wild, that is their nature; and it will always be so. They deserve to live free in their natural enviornment. And why do they deserve less just because they are an animal?
The killer whale did not know the trainer could not survive under water. I don't think the intent from the whale was to kill her trainer or she would have expressed herself in a different way. I remember watching the video of the trainer slapping the whale.....as it hit me ! I felt she made a mistake doing so. I think she pissed off the whale and the whale went on feeling aggressive. Have you , any of you ? ever played rough with your dog or even your cat and they get aggressive ? that's what happened there. The whale was heartbroken when she realized she killed her trainer. Somehow, I simply know this. I feel the pain of the whale as it was a mistake. They should be free, indeed. Humans have capitalized off these animals long enough.
Does anyone have any info on these whales? If they were born in captivity or if they were caught? Is it still legal to catch whales and dolphins for these types of places?
Just by reading some of the comments a can see that Orcas are more intelligent than some of the humans here
If I had to spend my whole life locked in a cage I would
become violent too.
FYI: This is a Female who had just been separated from her Baby! ...... so she could perform and make more money for Sea World.... The Baby was upset and calling for it's Mother! This got the Mother upset as she was being forced into a performance and away from her baby!
NOW under these circumstances what mother wouldn't be aggressive to the "person" who separated her from her crying baby? The guy is lucky she let him go
Are you aware of how many of the orcas die at Sea World every year? And they die young or while giving birth. Are you aware that they often give the replacement whales the same name as the deceased to keep the death quiet? Are you aware of the fact that Sea World has a constant petition in the courts to allow them to capture yet another whale? It's all about the MONEY people. The whole idea that we are somehow helping the animals is a crock. For those who doubt that it is all about money, and/or don't recall what happened in 1987, take a look at this: http://articles.latimes.com/1987-08-09/magazine/tm-463_1_killer-whales
I'm up to my neck with the claim that keeping ANY wild animal in any type of captivity is educational. Yes, it may be educational. What we are teaching our children is that they are just animals, we can do whatever we want with them. What would be thought of a culture that embraced a man taking his son at a given age to a brothel and telling him that "We can do whatever we want with them, they are just women."?
I don't care if it is a goldfish in a bowel or an ape in a cage, there is no excuse for any of it.
Well said, Very Well Said pastol, thank you
Free Willy!