The signature killer whale show, “Believe,” at SeaWorld Orlando in Florida has changed dramatically since the tragic death in February of trainer Dawn Brancheau.
Those who sit in the “soak zone,” the seats closest to the pool, still get drenched, and the whale leaps are as spectacular as ever. But trainers, for now, do not get into the water with the orcas as they did before. Instead they interact with the whales from the pool’s edge.
Judging by a recent capacity-crowd performance, this has not dampened enthusiasm for the 20-minute show. “SeaWorld put water interaction with killer whales on the map,” said Kelly Flaherty Clark, curator of animal training. “The audience notices (that we’re not in the water with the whales), but they’re very understanding. There’s no question that people know what happened here. They are responding very well to the adjustments, and so are the killer whales.”
Brancheau, 40, an Indiana native, drowned after a performance when the show’s star killer whale, Tilikum, grabbed her by her ponytail and submerged. The 12,000-pound Tilikum has been removed from the show. “We hope to get to the point where we can put him back,” Clark said. “He’s an amazing animal. He was the best at getting people wet.”
Clark said “Believe,” with its “follow your dream” message, is a fitting tribute to Brancheau and part of her legacy. She can still be glimpsed in the video that accompanies the show. “She helped shape (the show),” Clark said. “She was just phenomenal at her job. We have taken a huge step back to re-examine every single thing we do with every animal before we take the next step of moving back into the water. Dawn is a part of all that (in spirit). She’s right there with me, that’s for sure.”
