Tilikum The Orca

I've had this post written for a few days now, ever since I heard about Tilikum but I wasn't sure whether to post it or not. Then I realised that people need to know the truth.

Don't get me wrong, the first time I heard about Tilikum was only when Seaworld announced that his health was deteriorating. Since then I have done a lot of research into this. 

A little bit of information about Tilikum 

Tilikum (nicknamed Tilly) the Orca is estimated to have been born around November 1981. He only had 2 years of swimming around the big open ocean with his family before he was captured near Iceland in 1983. 

For about a year he was held in a cement holding tank as the people who had captured him were waiting for him to be transferred into a Marine Park. During his year in the tank he only had enough room to swim in small circles as he was already 13 feet long at 2 years of age. 

Then he arrived at Sealand around 1983/1984. Here he was put into training straight away. Food was withheld from him to 'help him train' sometimes for days. Tilikum was made to perform up to 8 times a day, 7 days a week. 

There was two other Orcas in the small pool with him - both female. They would both bite and attack him because they had ate nothing. 

Unfortunately Tilikum has been involved in the death of 3 people. One at Sealand and two at Seaworld. As after he had killed the first trainer at Sealand they had closed down and he had to be sold, there Seaworld bought him. 

At Seaworld he killed two people, one trainer and a man trespassing. After killing the third person, Seaworld decided to stop him from performing until early 2011. 

Since he has been captured he has had 21 calves. Only 10 are alive. Most have died from stillbirth although a few have lived but died after a few years - I haven't been able to find any cause of death for these. It has been said that female orcas have been artificial insermenated in order to breed more calves for him. 

Poor Tilikum is the largest Orca in captivity. He weighs over 12,500lbs and he's over 22Feet in length. I've heard that one of his find has collapsed to his side. His teeth have worn down from where he has been biting on the concrete. 

Orca males have an average life expectancy at around 70 years. Tilikum is only 34. He should have another 36 years in him! He would have if he wasn't held captive. 

Yet, it's been announced that his health is deteriorating due to an untreatable lung infection caused by rare bacteria in the water he swims in, since this he has been put back into a pool on his own. As far as I'm aware Seaworld have not said anything else on the matter. 

But this would not have happened if he wasn't held captive! Those three deaths would not have happened! He wouldn't be dying! It's not fair on him or those poor people & their families. Animals are not meant to be held against their will. Orcas love to swim around the ocean, thousands of miles to swim with his family.

Please Seaworld, stop this madness and let everyone know what's happening with him. Give us an update!

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Thank you for reading. 

I tried to fit as much detail as I could into this post about Tilikum. Although, I've probably missed a lot out. 

*This post is not sponsored*

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Katie

Xoxo