Daniel Dukes sneaked past security and into Tilikum’s tank at SeaWorld in Florida, where he was found blackened to death. 5 Tilikum was responsible for three human deathsCredit: Alamy 5 Daniel Dukes was found drowned in Tilikum’s tank in 1999Credit: Fox News 5 The 27-year-old entered the Orca tankCredit: Twitter Tilikum, an orca that died in 2017, was responsible for at least three human deaths in its lifetime. Dukes’ autopsy found the 27-year-old drifter had his scrotum gnawed off by Tilikum after he was dragged and held underwater by the powerful beast. He reportedly waited until closing time in July 1999, when he stripped down to reveal a bathing suit and climbed into the 11,000-pound colossal whale’s tank. Terrified SeaWorld employees and trainers found the battered man the next morning. Dukes’ parents, Michael and Patricia Dukes, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit but dropped the case a few weeks later. But the park blamed Dukes for his death, which they said was the result of a break-in and unsupervised swimming with Tilikum. And the park has always maintained that Dukes died of “accidental drowning” and dismissed the incident as an example of aggression. At the time, Dukes’ death was the second involving Tilikum. The park also defends their welfare record with the orcas – saying they received “world-class care”. Ric O’Barry, a marine mammal trainer who has dedicated his life to releasing captive dolphins back into the wild, said Dukes was likely pulled into the water by Tilikum, who killed him out of “boredom.” He said the marine theme park industry was “poorly regulated” and said SeaWorld bought Tilikum for breeding purposes, according to Orlando Weekly. He went into the water. I think the whale probably pulled him down, kept him under the water. I don’t think they know how often we breathe. Ric O’Barry – marine mammal trainer The experienced marine trainer said the captive nature of the animal made SeaWorld’s orcas far more dangerous than they would be if they lived in the wild. “The thing about orcas — they’re probably the only animal in the world that when they’re born they’re going to stay with their mother for life,” he said. “The first thing SeaWorld does is separate them from their family. This obviously causes frustration. “Then they put them in these concrete boxes.”

‘PSYCHOTIC’ POWDER

O’Barry believes that Dukes was “infatuated” with Tilikum and broke in to swim with him. “He went into the water; I think the whale probably pulled him down, held him under the water. I don’t think they know how often we breathe.” He said that was the problem with whales who have nothing better to do. “They were bored,” he explained. “We literally bored them to death. It’s like living in the bathroom for life.” Sadly for Dukes’ parents, officers completed their investigation within three weeks and said their son died as a result of poor judgment. The Orange Country Sheriff’s Office (OSCO) and the media at the time blamed the death on Dukes, whom they painted as a “marijuana smoker from South Carolina with a string of petty arrests.” Written testimony provided to OSCO by SeaWorld staff who had observed Dukes the day before his death referred to his “clothing and lack of personal hygiene.” Visitors said that Dukes was “muttering to himself… [and] it looked dirty and has a bad smell,” according to the Dolphin Project. At one point Dukes was seen “prowling around the front gate square eyeing young girls suspiciously”. In 1991, Tilikum was involved in another drowning death of an instructor at a park in Canada. Marine biology student Keltie Byrne was working part-time at Sealand in Pacific Canada when she was ripped apart in front of horrified onlookers. She had slipped into the pool by accident, and witnesses said Tilikum grabbed her while two other orcas prevented park staff from reaching Kelty. Several hours passed before Keltie’s body was recovered. Shortly after the incident, the whale was sold to SeaWorld. In 2010, Dawn Brancheau was dragged into the water by the orca during a post-show routine. The woman leaned over the edge of the tank to rub Tilikum when his behavior suddenly changed and he pulled her into the water by her ponytail. Tragic scenes saw Dawn shaken and thrown as terrified guests were frantically chased away by staff. According to information, the 40-year-old had a scalp and was bitten on the hand during the attack.

MURDER SPR

Dawn’s shocking death made headlines around the world, calling into question how ethical it is to keep whales in captivity – with much speculation centering on Tilikum’s treatment and life. Many experts and former trainers believe Tilikum became a serial killer purely as a result of his traumatic time in captivity, with the landmark 2013 documentary Blackfish shedding light on long-standing concerns. Tilikum died in 2017 after suffering serious health problems, including a persistent and complicated bacterial lung infection. His death came just a year after SeaWorld announced it was ending its breeding program after years of activists protesting it. A SeaWorld spokesperson previously said: “Trainers have not been trained in the water or performed with killer whales at SeaWorld since 2010. “There have been no incidents like the one described in this article since these changes were made more than a decade ago.
“Our hundreds of veterinarians and care specialists provide world-class medical care.
“None of the killer whales in our care live a solitary life and they take part in positive reinforcement sessions every day, taking part in a range of different activities to ensure they get plenty of physical and mental exercise. “Furthermore, the study of orcas in our care by our scientists and third-party organizations has directly informed the world’s knowledge and ability to protect whales in the wild.” The Sun has reached out to SeaWorld for further comment. 5 Keltie Byrne was the first person killed by Tilikum in 1991 5 Dawn Brancheau (right) was killed by the whale in 2010