SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — A SeaWorld animal trainer says the whale that pulled a trainer into a pool and drowned her last year was possessive of objects and that trainers were given grave warnings about working with him.
Shana Groves testified Thursday on the fourth day of a hearing over whether SeaWorld should have to pay $75,000 in fines from three citations issued after the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau.
Brancheau died when a killer whale named Tilikum grabbed her and dragged her underwater violently.
Groves detailed the rules of working with Tilikum.
She says trainers were told that if they fell in the water with Tilikum they might not survive. They also were taught never to turn their backs on any animal during a show.
Source: Associated Press
