Tilikum (killer whale) facts for kids
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Tilikum during a 2009 performance at SeaWorld
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| Species | Orca (Orcinus orca) |
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| Breed | Icelandic |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | c. December 1981 |
| Died | January 6, 2017 (aged 35) Orlando, Florida, US |
| Years active | 1983–2016 |
| Known for | Involvement in the deaths of three people |
| Offspring | 21 (9 alive as of July 2021[update]) |
| Weight | 12,500 lb (5,700 kg) |
Tilikum (born around December 1981 – died January 6, 2017), also known as Tilly, was a male orca who lived in captivity. He spent most of his life at SeaWorld Orlando in Florida. Tilikum was caught in the wild near Iceland in 1983. About a year later, he moved to Sealand of the Pacific in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. In 1992, he was transferred to SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. During his life, he became a father to 21 calves.
Tilikum was a big part of the 2013 documentary Blackfish. This film suggests that orcas in captivity can experience stress and become unusually aggressive. There have been four incidents where captive orcas caused human deaths. Tilikum was involved in three of these events. These included incidents with Keltie Byrne, a trainer at Sealand of the Pacific, Daniel P. Dukes, a person who entered Tilikum's pool at SeaWorld Orlando, and SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau.
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All About Tilikum
Tilikum was the biggest orca living in captivity. He was about 22.5 feet (6.9 m) (6.8 meters) long. He weighed around 12,500 pounds (5,700 kg) (5,670 kg). His front fins, called pectoral fins, were 7 feet (2.1 m) (2.1 meters) long. His tail, called a fluke, was curled under. His tall dorsal fin, which was 6.5-foot-tall (2.0 m) (2 meters), was completely bent over to his left side. This is common for orcas in captivity.
His name comes from the Chinook Jargon language of the Pacific Northwest. It means "friends, relations, tribe, nation, or common people."
Tilikum's Life Story
How Tilikum Was Captured
Tilikum was captured when he was two years old. This happened in November 1983, in Berufjörður, Iceland. He was caught along with two other young orcas using a large net called a purse-seine net. After spending almost a year in a tank at the Hafnarfjördur Marine Zoo, he moved to Sealand of the Pacific. This park was in Oak Bay, near Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada.
At Sealand, Tilikum lived with two older female orcas named Haida II and Nootka IV. Orcas in the wild often have a matriarchal social structure, meaning females lead the group. Sometimes, the older females at Sealand were aggressive towards Tilikum. They would sometimes force him into a smaller medical pool. Trainers kept him there for his protection.
Incidents Involving Tilikum
It is very rare for orca attacks on humans to happen in the wild. No fatal attacks have ever been recorded in the wild. However, as of 2022, four people have died because of interactions with orcas in captivity. Tilikum was involved in three of these incidents. These events raised important questions about keeping large, intelligent animals like orcas in captivity.
Tilikum Returns to Performing
Tilikum started performing again on March 30, 2011. After the incident with trainer Dawn Brancheau, new safety rules were put in place. Trainers used high-pressure water hoses to massage Tilikum instead of their hands. Removable guardrails were also used on the platforms where trainers stood. This was because the OSHA limited close contact between orcas and trainers.
Tilikum often performed with his grandson Trua during the finale of the new One Ocean show. Sometimes, he was also kept with his daughter Malia, or with both Trua and Malia at the same time. In December 2011, Tilikum stopped performing for a while because of an illness. He started performing again in April 2012.
Tilikum's Health and Passing
In March 2016, SeaWorld announced that Tilikum's health was getting worse. They believed he had a lung infection caused by bacterial pneumonia. In May 2016, reports said Tilikum's health was getting better. However, on January 6, 2017, SeaWorld announced that Tilikum had died early that morning. The cause of his death was reported as a bacterial infection.
Tilikum's Offspring
Tilikum became a father to 21 calves while in captivity. In November 2013, 11 of his offspring were still alive.
While at Sealand of the Pacific, Tilikum had his first calf. He was about eight or nine years old at the time. His first son, Kyuquot, was born to Haida II on December 24, 1991. Just a few months before Kyuquot was born, Tilikum was involved in the first incident where a person died. SeaWorld then asked for Tilikum to be moved to their facility quickly.
After he arrived at SeaWorld, Tilikum had many more calves with different female orcas. His first calf born in Orlando was with Katina. Katina gave birth to Taku on September 9, 1993. Taku passed away on October 17, 2007.
Some of Tilikum's other calves include: Nyar (born 1993, died 1996), Unna (1996–2015), Sumar (1998–2010), Tuar (1999), Tekoa (2000), Nakai (2001-2022), Kohana (2002-2022), Ikaika (2002), Skyla (2004-2021), Malia (2007), Sakari (2010), and Makaio (2010).
In early 2000, Kasatka gave birth to Tilikum's son, Nakai, on September 1, 2001. On May 3, 2002, another female in San Diego, named Takara, had Tilikum's calf through artificial insemination. Tilikum was also the first captive orca to successfully become a grandfather. His grandchildren include Trua (2005), Nalani (2006), Adán (2010), and Victoria (2012–2013).
See also
In Spanish: Tilikum para niños
- Tilikum v. Sea World
- Incidents at SeaWorld parks
- List of individual cetaceans
