SeaWorld killer whale involved in trainer’s death is ailing

The health of Tilikum, the male orca at Orlando’s SeaWorld involved in the death of its trainer, is deteriorating as it nears the end of its life span, the theme park said.

“We are saddened to report that over the past few weeks, Tilikum’s behavior has become increasingly lethargic,” SeaWorld said in a statement.

Based on the orca’s size when it was captured in 1983, the park estimates Tilikum’s age at around 35 years, well past the average life span of male orcas.

Tilikum arrived at the park 23 years ago and “became a part of SeaWorld’s family,” the theme park said, adding that the company has not captured any of these wild animals in the ocean for 35 years.

Park veterinarians suspect the orca has a bacterial infection in the lungs and have not found an effective way to treat it.

During a show in 2010, the sixton killer whale grabbed trainer Dawn Brancheau’s hair in his mouth and dragged her to the bottom of the tank, where she died of asphyxia, the coroner’s office said.

In 2013, filmmaker Gabriela Cowperthwaite released a documentary on Tilikum, titled “Blackfish,” reopening the debate about keeping wild animals captive for shows in the United States.