Why did Tilikum the orca kill Dawn Brancheau?

Former SeaWorld trainer Jeffrey Ventre blamed Tilikum for Brancheau's death, but the truth begins with the wild orca's capture near Iceland in 1983. At just 2 years old, he was torn from his mother and their ocean home and sent to the rundown marine park Sealand of the Pacific. read more

Something about SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau's ponytail may have triggered the attack. That's what an official at the Orlando marine park told reporters the day after the 16-year veteran at SeaWorld was killed by Tilikum, a 12,000-lb. (5,500 kg) killer whale. read more

Dawn blew the whistle to signal him to stop but he obviously didn’t hear it and did another lap, causing Dawn to reward him with less food so that punishment could play a part. Tilikum also had previously been involved in the deaths of two other people. read more

A killer whale approaches Dawn Brancheau, seconds later she was dragged underneath the water . But there was speculation that a simple swish of her ponytail could have been the trigger for the fatal attack. Officials claimed Mrs Brancheau's hair brushed the nose of the killer whale, called Tillikum, as she petted him in a pool on Wednesday. read more

But the question of what triggered Tilikum to pull Dawn Brancheau into the pool, on that day as opposed to any other day over the years of close interaction with Dawn and many other trainers, is a key question which bears close analysis. read more