Called Tilikum News Today

This animal killed twice before. he knows how to kill. he attacked, he killed her. he took her down to the windows underwater and showed her body to the people below eating dinner. it took 40 minutes to get her away from him. they had to take him over to the med pool which has a false bottom, lift him out of the water and pry her out of his mouth. because she was a trophy. thats why. that was an attack. happy animals -- happy animals dont kill trainers. >> it is hard to talk about what has happe...

Position to be in with an animal like him. so i think -- i think even if dawn was sitting here with me right now, she would tell you that was a mistake she made. >> reporter: remember, tilikum had killed before. in 1991 he and other two other whales pulled a trainer who fell into the pool underwater in a park in british columbia. thats why seaworld was more cautious with him. trainers were not allowed to swim with tilikum. >> hes not used to people being in the water. he was laying there looking...

I screamed and she screamed. i started yelling to the other trainer because he wasnt looking. i said, he took her down. he took her down. >> reporter: earlier reports suggested the whale had grabbed brancheaus waist, but today, seaworld set the record straight. >> our best analysis at this point is he grabbed her ponytail. >> reporter: look closely at this video. you can see brancheaus long ponytail swinging back and forth. but it may not have looked attractive to this six-ton killer whale until...

The orcas in the wild throwing and playing with their prey. is this what you think -- you can see the video right there i think, russ. is this what you think was happening here or do you think something else? do you think he just snapped? >> no, this was an attack. this animals killed twice before. he knows how to kill. he attacked, he killed her. he took her down to the windows underwater and showed her body to the people below eating dinner. it took 40 minutes to get her away from him. they ha...

Animal that wont be punished. one former trainer speaking out saying the victim made a deadly error in judgment. up close tonight, heres randi kaye. >> reporter: youre looking at video of seaworld trainer dawn brandcheau. a tourist taped this. it was just moments before the 12,000 pound killer whale, called tilikum, took the veteran trainer into his mouth and dove under water. brandcheau sways from side to side. he follows. she splashes him with buckets of water and feeds him fish. a reward for ...

Dont kill trainers. >> it is hard to talk about what has happened here in that context certainly. jack, what about what russ is saying? can all animals be put into captivity? tilikum had been involved at least in three killings before. was he possibly not right, tilikum -- >> well, again, i dont know what russ -- i know what russ background is, by the way. have you ever seen a killer whale attack, sanjay? while weve been in the wild, when a killer whale attacks, especially go up on the land 10 o...

British columbia. thats why seaworld was more cautious with him. trainers were not allowed to swim with tilikum. >> hes not used to people being in the water. he was laying there looking at her. she was rubbing him down. all of a sudden the ponytail was there. >> reporter: on this video you can see what hes talking about. brancheau is on a shelf that slides out into the pool laying in about four inches of water. right next to the 22-foot-long orca. >> the ponytail drifted there. he probably grab...

Then recommends the custom fit orthotic thats best fo@)your feet. for customized comfort all day long. for locations, see drscholls.com. new developments today out of seaworld in orlando where a 12,000 pound killer whale named tilikum fatally attacked a trainer. officials there said shows featuring the whales are going to resume tomorrow. the head of seaworld calls tilikum a wonderful animal that wont be punished. one former trainer speaking out saying the victim made a deadly error in judgmen...

All of a sudden the ponytail was there. >> reporter: on this video you can see what hes talking about. brandcheau is on a shelf that slides out into the pool. laying in about four inches of water. right next to the 22-foot-long orca. >> the ponytail drifted there. he probably grabbed it and pulled her in and went, whoa, i have her in the water. >> reporter: licinik who has worked with whales for three decades says hes convinced at least in the beginning tilikum had no idea he was doing anything ...

Point is he grabbed her ponytail. >> reporter: look closely at this video. you can see brandcheaus long ponytail swinging back and forth. it may not have looked attractive to this six-ton killer whale until she got closer. the man who trained her said she made a fatal mistake. >> i think she made a mistake by putting her, and allowing herself, to be that close to his mouth and laying down. thats a pretty vulnerable position to be in with an animal like him. so i think -- i think even if dawn was...