Cars line up as SeaWorld Orlando reopens a day after trainer’s death; Shamu Stadium closed
By Tamara Lush, APThursday, February 25, 2010
SeaWorld reopens a day after whale kills trainer
ORLANDO, Fla. — Cars are lining up to get into the parking lot at SeaWorld Orlando as it reopens a day after a whale dragged its trainer from a platform and killed her.
A sign at the parking attendants booth says Shamu Stadium, where the killer whales perform, is still closed.
Kelly Vickery of Tallahassee was at the last orca show before it happened Wednesday and brought her sons back Thursday even though she said it felt a bit weird being there. She wanted her sons to see areas of the park that shut down after trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed.
A whale named Tilikum that has been involved in two other human deaths dragged Brancheau into the water and thrashed her around.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Celebrity zookeeper Jack Hanna says a trainer killed at SeaWorld Orlando would not want anything to happen to the killer whale that dragged her from a platform and thrashed her around.
Hanna is the Columbus, Ohio, Zoo’s director emeritus and says he knew trainer Dawn Brancheau professionally for the last 10 years.
Brancheau died Wednesday when the 12,000-pound whale Tilikum dragged her underwater.
Hanna says Brancheau was a beautiful person and probably the best at what she did. He says the animals at SeaWorld are not mistreated or suffering.
