ORLANDO, Fla.,None — A new killer whale show will soon open at SeaWorld Orlando and the trainers will stay out of the water, park officials announced Thursday. Trainers were taken out of the water after the death of Dawn Brancheau, who was drowned by killer whale Tilikum last February.
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After Brancheau's death, a year of investigation and a major federal fine, SeaWorld is fundamentally changing its killer whale show.
The decision to not allow trainers in the water is in direct response to Brancheau's drowning. Ever since a killer whale pulled the trainer under water by her ponytail, SeaWorld has not found a safe way to put its trainers back in the pools with the killer whales.
"One Ocean," which will replace the popular 5-year run "Believe" show, is scheduled to premiere in Shamu Stadium at SeaWorld Orlando at the end of April.
SeaWorld officials said they don't believe that attendance will suffer due to the decision of trainers not being in the water. SeaWorld said the whales will interact with trainers, the audience, each other, and even the set itself, but trainers are not allowed inside the water with them. When the trainers get close to the whales, there are barriers to protect them.
Park officials said they have not decided whether Tilikum will be part of new show. Tilikum drowned Brancheau by grabbing her ponytail and pulling her into the water. As a result, since her death, trainers have had to keep their hair pulled back in a bun.
"This show is going to be highlighting the killer whale in ways people have never seen before. Killer whales are amazing to watch, jumping, three, four, five, six at a time. We have seven killer whales," Director of Animal Training Kelly Flaherty Clark said.
SeaWorld downplayed the entertainment value of trainers riding whales out of the water.
"It's not the same as it used to be. It was more exciting before," SeaWorld visitor Claire Tremblay said.
A tourist family and a SeaWorld trainer are suing SeaWorld over Brancheau's death. SeaWorld is fighting a $75,000 fine levied by the federal government for not following regulations.
SeaWorld said it is hoping to make a big splash with its new show.
"Killer whales have big tails and they have the capacity to raise those tails near the fountains," Clark said.
The new show will premiere at SeaWorld San Diego on Memorial Day weekend and SeaWorld San Antonio in June. It will replace the "Believe" show in all three parks.
Previous Stories: August 26, 2010: Lawsuit: SeaWorld Trainer's Death Tramautized Boy August 25, 2010: Family Of Trainer Killed At SeaWorld Hires Attorney August 24, 2010: SeaWorld Calls OSHA Report "Unfounded," Will Contest Citation June 29, 2010: SeaWorld May Settle With OSHA Over Trainer's Death March 31, 2010: Autopsy: SeaWorld Trainer Died Of Trauma, Drowning March 22, 2010: Legal Fight Over Whale Attack Video Not Over March 9, 2010: PETA Flies Banner Over SeaWorld Demanding Whale Release March 4, 2010: 911 Calls Released In SeaWorld Trainer Death March 2, 2010: Witnesses: Whale Refused To Unclench Teeth February 25, 2010: Should Tilikum Be Returned To The Wild? February 25, 2010: Slain Whale Trainer Had True Passion For Job February 25, 2010: SeaWorld Guests React Day After Whale Attack February 25, 2010: Whale Pulls Trainer Off Platform By Hair In Fatal Attack
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