SeaWorld will keep killer whale despite trainer’s death

February 25, 2010

In this photo taken on Dec. 30, 2005, Dawn Brancheau, a whale trainer at SeaWorld Adventure Park, is shown while performing. Brancheau was killed in an accident with a killer whale at the SeaWorld Shamu Stadium Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Julie Fletcher) ** MANDATORY CREDIT. LEESBURG OUT; LADY LAKE OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES **

ORLANDO (AP) — Despite calls to free or destroy the animal, SeaWorld said Thursday it will keep the killer whale that drowned its trainer, but will suspend all orca shows while it decides whether to change the way handlers work with the behemoths.Also, VIP visitors who occasionally were invited to pet the killer whales will no longer be allowed to do so.”We’re going to make any changes we have to to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” said Chuck Tompkins, chief of animal training.

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