SeaWorld Orlando's Tilikum the Whale Has Died
Tilikum's death comes days after SeaWorld San Diego put on its final orca show.
SeaWorld (SEAS) - Get Report Orlando announced Friday morning that its orca whale Tilikum was pronounced dead at an estimated 36 years old, according to CBS News.
Though the official cause of death has yet to be determined, Tilikum was being treated for a persistent bacterial infection.
Tilikum's story was featured in Blackfish, the 2013 anti-whale-captivity documentary that led to a fall in SeaWorld's attendance. Tilikum also gained national attention in 2010 as the whale who killed trainer Dawn Brancheau after he pulled her into a pool following a show.
SeaWorld is ending its orca shows in San Diego and plans to phase out the shows in all its parks by 2019.
