SeaWorld Orlando Killer Whale Dies While Giving Birth

Singapore
June 7, 2010 9:54pm CST
Seaworld Orlando officials have reported that one of their orca, Taima has died from complications while giving birth. It is learned from the park officials that Taima's foetus was in an unusual position during the delivery. Park veterinarians attempted to assist but the complications were too severe. The calf was stillborn. Taima is the park's 20 year old orca, who was born at the park in 1990 and had given birth successfully to three calves before. Along with another 32-year-old orca - Katina, both of them were impregnated by Tilikum, the whale who drowned a trainer in February. Katina, is expected to give birth this October. I just cannot help having mix feelings about this incident as though I am sad for this unfortunate incident, I am also wondering if this unfortunate tragic incident had something to do with the rogue whale Tilikum's karmic past misdoings. What goes round, comes around - killer whales no exception. What do you think? Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1284734/Taima-20-year-old-captive-killer-whale-dies-giving-birth.html
5 responses
dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jun 10
I don't think that this accident has anything at all to do with the father. I think that it is sad that both mother and calf passed away, but I also think that this is something that happens in life. There are women that die during childbirth and I think it is just due to complications that no one has control over. To place the blame on the karmic misdoings of the father in this kind of situation is just wrong in my opinion.
1 person likes this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
12 Jun 10
dorannmwin, Like you, I would like to think like you as well but some things are just unexplainable and I am just rambling here. I suppose I am coming from a perspective to try and find an answer to such controversial incidents. Something like firing the first salvo to see which direction the flock will fly to.
oldchem1
@oldchem1 (8132)
•
8 Jun 10
How very sad, and nothing at al to do with the father. And with regards to Tilikum killing the trainer - if you keep wild animals you can expect problems like this I'm afraid
1 person likes this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
8 Jun 10
oldchem1, Sad indeed. I do agree that the behavioral patterns can be erratic for these wild animals and Tilikum is no exception. Take care.
DCMerkle
@DCMerkle (1281)
• United States
8 Jun 10
skysuccess, Even though I believe in karma I don't think that animals are part of the karmic cycle. What I do believe in is that animals of any kind do go to heaven and that is where I hope that Taima and her calf have gone. DCMerkle
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
8 Jun 10
DCMerkle, I must admit that I had let my mind wander off on this karmic issue and hope that it is not true too. However, I am sad at this tragic event and hope that the other whale will not have this incident as well. Have a nice day.
katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
8 Jun 10
2 Orca lives for 1 human life? You think that's fair? Besides that, why should Taima and her baby be punished for something Tilikum did, which by the way, I don't hold against him.. wild animals were not meant to be held in captivity like that? That's not Karma. It's just nature.. every species has complicated pregnancies and mom and baby often die during child birth. It is sad that it happened, but alas, it's the way the world works.
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
9 Jun 10
katsmeow1213, You do have a point there where karma will befall on Tilikum being that it is culpable for the deaths of 3 human lives. I have no doubt that there is some reason(s) beyond for the park to keep it within the facility. I probably could answer the part of releasing it - it might not be able to adjust to the harsh elements of the open seas when it had been so accustomed to captivity. There is also probably another reason for it being kept so that studies could be conducted for its irregular violent behavior. It is probably for our learning curve here. Thanks for your comments again.
DCMerkle
@DCMerkle (1281)
• United States
8 Jun 10
katsmeow, I would have to agree with you, but there are no other facilities to handle an animal as large as Tilikum is other than the facilities that the whale is in. To put an animal down, that size, would take more than what would put an elephant down. Euthanizing the whale is out of the question. It's the administrations responsibility as well as the staff's job to handle that animal with more than just the expected amount of care, security, and seasoned professionals that it takes with a standard animal. DCMerkle
debsgw
@debsgw (256)
•
8 Jun 10
I too hope that this is in no way related to Tilikums misdoings. It would be too unfair for Taima and her calf to suffer because of something Tilikum did, what would be the point of that? I think it's just a tragic situation that can happen sometimes and that it doesn't matter who the father of the calf was. It's just a random happening that was fatal and so sad for Taima and her calf. It raises the whole issue of how ethical it is or isn't to keep these mammals in captivity and expect them to perform and live in a way that is so unnatural to them..
1 person likes this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
8 Jun 10
debsgw, Like you, I too hope that this is in no way related to Tilikum's misdoings and that the deaths are really unfair. It could be an unfortunate incident where there was birth complications to strike and that it had further resulted in the calf being stillborn.