Another Orca Incident at SeaWorld Orlando Leaves Trainer Injured, Hazard Concerns Renewed

SeaWorld Orlando has long been a magnet for controversy, particularly over its treatment of marine animals. The 2013 documentary Blackfish ignited a firestorm, exposing the harsh realities of captive orcas and their psychological distress.

A huge focus of the documentary was the death of Dawn Brancheau, the SeaWorld Orlando trainer who was dragged into the pool and killed by the orca Tilikum (who passed away in 2017) after a Dine with Shamu show in 2010. In the wake of Brancheau’s death, SeaWorld prohibited trainers from entering the water with any orca, with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reinforcing this ban and ultimately fining the park $75,000.

Further Injuries at SeaWorld Orlando

OSHA has intervened in subsequent years after additional incidents at the park, including in 2022 when Malia, a then-15-year-old orca, bit a trainer during a routine cleaning.

The trainer used a pressurized spray wand to clear food and debris from Malia’s mouth when she went “within less than the three-foot stay away rule by moving their right hand across the plane of Malia’s mouth.” Malia then closed her mouth unexpectedly but opened it as soon as she felt resistance.

After being taken to a nearby hospital, the trainer in question underwent surgery for her injuries, which included multiple right forearm and wrist fractures. No federal citations were issued, but safety officials ordered SeaWorld Orlando to purchase a longer spray wand.

Other incidents that same year included a dolphin named Rascal who received serious injuries after being targeted by other dolphins in its enclosure. The dolphins repeatedly raked Rascal with their teeth, leaving him with scrape marks, bleeding, and scarring across 30% of his body.

New Incident Occurs with Orca

Now, yet another incident has occurred at the Florida theme park.

As per a news release released by the U.S. Department of Labor, an employee was injured during a training exercise with a killer whale in September 2024.

An investigation found that the park failed to properly protect the trainer from the hazards involved when working with an orca. The U.S. Department of Labor has since issued SeaWorld Orlando – which is owned by United Parks & Resorts – with a general duty clause serious citation for exposing the employee to potential bites, strikes, and drowning.

OSHA has also proposed a fine of $16,550. SeaWorld now has 15 business days from the date it receives the citations and penalties to respond. It can either comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or challenge the findings.

SeaWorld Trainers Slam Orca Visibility

The declining prominence of orcas at SeaWorld Orlando has frustrated guests in recent years. with many feeling their presence is downplayed. “They’re the only park that never posts orcas on social media,” one Reddit user noted. Concerns over limited visibility in the underwater viewing pool and repetitive shows persist.

A key incident often cited is Trua striking his head on the viewing glass, which activists heavily criticized. Some believe this led SeaWorld to limit orca visibility, while others blame the pool’s size. “Since then, my friends who regularly visit SeaWorld Orlando have said it’s been pretty rare to see them in the viewing pool,” one Reddit user shared.

Debate continues over whether orcas avoid the viewing pool or if access is restricted. “As for the animals not liking it, I’m not so sure—it’s one of the most enriching pools because of the rocks,” a Reddit user noted. Another claimed, “In San Diego, they often leave the gate to the show pool open, while in Orlando, the orcas are rarely in the show pool and usually head to the back pools after presentations.” 

What do you think of SeaWorld’s use of orcas?