Should Video of the SeaWorld Death Be Made Public?
Photo of trainer Dawn Brancheau with one of the killer whales at SeaWorld. Brancheau lost her life in an accident with the largest of the orcas, Tillikum, at the Orlando park on February 24. Her family is seeking an injunction to prevent release of video of her death. (photo: SeaWorld)
As many suspected, SeaWorld security cameras captured footage of the moments trainer Dawn Brancheau was dragged into a tank by the killer whale, Tillikum, at the Orlando park on February 24th.
Authorities at SeaWorld have turned over the footage to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, but Florida law permits release of such video by request to the media after the investigation is completed. Brancheau's family is consulting with attorneys to prevent such a release, including the attorney who represented Dale Earnhardt's widow in a similar battle involving the race car driver's autopsy photos.
Charles LoVerde, speaking for the Brancheau family, said Monday that "use of this video will do nothing more than further sensationalize a tragic event and traumatize our family."
SeaWorld is joining Brancheau's family in seeking to prevent release of the video.
Brancheau, 40, one of the most experienced and recognizable trainers at SeaWorld Orlando, was killed when the 12,000 pound orca apparently grabbed her ponytail and took her into the tank with him. She was pronounced dead on the scene when paramedics arrived. Autopsy results confirmed she died of multiple traumatic injuries and drowning.
SeaWorld initially stated that Tillikum, the largest killer whale in captivity, would be kept at the park. However, SeaWorld officials are now saying they are putting any decisions regarding the fate of the orca on hold until the investigation into Brancheau's death is completed.
'Believe' shows at SeaWorld resumed the Saturday after the incident with a special tribute to Brancheau included. Tillikum has not participated in those shows.
Brancheau was buried last week in Chicago, where many of her family members still reside.
On the Web:
SeaWorld, trainer's family seek to prevent release of video of fatal killer-whale accident - Orlando Sentinel
When a Family Tragedy Turns Into a YouTube Sensation - Newsweek (Techtonic Shifts blog)
Set the Bar High Before Showing Killer Whale Attack Video - Poynter Online
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Ted Frier
Cleverley
J. P. Major
ohsillyme
Lauren B. Davis
Rochelle Skaar
Salon.com
Comments
Imagine if this were your own child; who would want to see their own child's death replayed in an endless loop for the purpose of ratings?
I think the public's 'right to know' certain things ought to have at least a minimum boundary of common decency.
Seriously, though, it's disgusting to watch the media circus being made out of this tragic accident (which is all it is).
Stephanie
Part of me says "destroy the video"; another says "If you are going to show one type of death, how is this different?" What I really wish is for these types of video experiences to be shunned.
"SeaWorld officials are now saying they are putting any decisions regarding the fate of the orca on hold." Exactly what are they saying here? What potential "fates" are they considering? SeaWorld, rather than Tillikum, bears responsibility for Brancheau's death. The whale was being a whale. The accident was both tragic and preventable. No one--not the whale, not the trainer--should have been in that position.
The public not only has no need to see it, they've got no right to see it. Any media that would publish such footage should be flogged IMHO. I would say the same thing should have been done with the luge competitor who lost his life at Vancouver. That video (which was of a TRAINING RUN) should never ever ever have been aired and NBC should be taken to task for airing it even ONCE.
Just saying.
That having been said, I know I'd watch it. No excuses, just a fact.
Mark Martinez,
Testing out hypergain like the energizer bunny
May the entirety of Seaworld's management and shareholders be dragged underwater until dead. They profit from the degradation of nature and life itself. Let's watch the video and see what it looks like.
I think that the video and all copies of it should be given to Ms. Brancheau's family, for them to do with as they feel best. I hope that one thing they will do before destroying them is to have a private showing for all SeaWorld employees and executives. Encourage/insist that they attend, and see for themselves the potential hazards of working with large animals in confinement. SeaWorld personnel are the only people who need to learn anything from watching footage of Ms. Brancheau's death. The public doesn't need to see how shocked and frightened she was, and I certainly don't. The video won't tell us anything that we can't already guess for ourselves, but perhaps it can teach SeaWorld personnel to be more aware of the environment in which they work and in which the whales live.
In the comments someone mentioned Dawn Bracheau's "legacy".
From what I have read Brancheau loved her work and would never want her death to be the deciding factor of Tilkium fate.
We need places like Sea World that can create a greater sense of compassion in the community, a stronger commitment to preservation and conservation and care, and to provide us a fuller understanding of our place in nature and on this planet we call Earth.
And we need people like Dawn who as child told her mother "This is what I want to do" after seeing Shamu at Sea World.
Brancheau's legacy will not end with her death... her legacy has just begun to unfold and is greater then the debate on that horrible video tape.
"For in the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught." -B. Dioum
and Dawn Therese Brancheau loved Tillikum.
http://open.salon.com/blog/kimhartman/2010/03/07/pink_chickens_and_why_we_need_shamu
The person gave up their right for this to be private when they chose to do a dangerous act in public before a live audience. I'm sorry that's harsh for the families, but it could be harsh for future families if something important that could be learned is not learned.
I don't think that viewing the tape would serve any purpose. It certainly won't lead to Sea World's demise. But, if the law allows for making it public, I don't know how it can be avoided, unless the family is successful in seeking some kind of injunction.
This reminds me of the same debate on the Timothy Treadwell video of the deaths of Treadwell and Amie Huguenard, who were killed and almost completely devoured by an Alaskan Grizzly Bear(s).
There was nothing to learn from that video and the State of Alaska did an excellent job of preserving that evidence, investigating it and then DESTROYING it.. no copies have leaked out in 7 years.
I would agree there are things to learn from the Sea World video, I just personally don't want to see it or see it sensationalized.
I agree with Bonnie Russell's comments, I say yes because there are going to be decisions made based on the public demand for these shows and about this killer whale and others at Sea World. I think if people want to see the video, they should. Maybe they will be so disgusted, they might want to ban all animal shows that use intelligent animals like elephants or dolphins to entertain humans.
This is one video we can miss.
Used for training purposes it is extreamly valuable. The training that I have recieved as an electrician has included a lot of picttures that you might say haunt me but frankly made me aware of just how dangerous my job is. Without htose pictures I'd be left guessing.
The footage has definate training value but it should only be used for that not the general media.
It also originally started for me on the island of Crete where I found the Jesus Merman in stone after building oh so many Stone Sculpture to the Muse looking for answers.
One day we will all understand this but one thing is for sure that animals do have an ability to understand us even the fish that we take for granted. Eventually I will publish my Holy Cow Portfolio that made me a National Hero in India and where I counted over 30 incidents where the cow read my mind and responded. This might be because I think in visual pictures.
Keep up the great work and once agin thanks for bring this to out attention because while traveling I missed out on that news all together.
As for the fate of the Orca...excuse me...what? There was no malicious intent for heaven's sake. It's an animal, doing what animals do. Who knows what its state of mind was when it killed her?
I'm in favor of it. Put it on youtube.