Potempa: Killer whale of ‘Blackfish’ near death

There’s no denying that film documentaries can change the world around us.

I’ve interviewed Morgan Spurlock, the man behind the mustache and many film documentaries, a few times over the years. His most famous work is the 2004 film “Super Size Me,” where he turned his camera lens to chronicle his month dining only on McDonald’s menu fare.

His documentary’s success ignited media attention about the weighty issues of the fat, sugar and sodium associated with fast food and McDonald’s eliminated its Super Size option. (Although, the McDonald’s corporate folks have said the decision to end the Super Size campaign was purely coincidental and pre-planned long before the release of the documentary.)

The same movie magic catalyst for change has prompted SeaWorld to cease the breeding program for their killer whales kept in captivity.

The marine life amusement park made the announcement earlier this spring, just days after announcing Tilikum, one of their most infamous finned attractions, is near death with a bacterial infection.

SeaWorld officials say the infection is in killer whale’s lungs and has been resistant to treatment, causing him to be lethargic.

“It’s extremely difficult to treat,” staff veterinarian Dr. Scott Gearhart said in a video statement.

“I wish I could say I was tremendously optimistic about Tilikum and his future but he has a disease that is chronic and progressive and at some point might cause his death,” Gearhart said.

Tilikum has been at SeaWorld Orlando for 23 years and has been used many times for the park’s breeding program. It was on Feb. 24, 2010, when Tilikum, the star draw at Sea World in Orlando, Fla., killed Dawn Brancheau, the 40-year-old trainer originally from Cedar Lake.

She drowned during the Dine with Shamu Show after the whale pulled her into the pool, a tragic incident that inspired a 2013 documentary about SeaWorld and the treatment of killer whales used in performances.

Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s documentary, called “Blackfish,” traces a 39-year history of killer whales in captivity leading up to Brancheau’s death. This same unpredictable whale was previously associated with the death of two other people.

In 2014, the Brancheau family issued the following statement on their web site for The Dawn Brancheau Foundation, finally breaking their silence about the documentary: “There has recently been an abundance of attention focused on the film ‘Blackfish.’ As the family of Dawn Brancheau, we are continually asked how we feel about the movie. We would like to take this opportunity to write briefly about the film so we can move on and continue our efforts to make the world a better place in honor of Dawn.

“First and foremost, we are not affiliated with this movie in any way. We did not assist with its creation and were unaware of its content until the film was shown at the Sundance Film Festival. The Dawn Brancheau Foundation as well as our family members have never and will never accept any compensation from its production.

“The film has brought a great deal of attention to the welfare of animals, and for that we are grateful. However, ‘Blackfish’ is not Dawn’s story. Dawn Brancheau believed in the ethical treatment of animals. Dawn followed her dreams and became a marine animal trainer. She loved the whales and was proud of her work as a trainer. Dawn thrived on introducing the whales to the audience and educating them about the animals in her care. Dawn would not have remained a trainer at SeaWorld for 15 years if she felt that the whales were not well cared for. Trainer safety was important to Dawn, and it remains important to us as well. Our family always supported Dawn and we continue to support Dawn’s friends and co-workers who currently care for the animals she so loved.

“Since Dawn’s death nearly four years ago, the media has focused mainly on the whales. A human life was lost that day and it feels as though some believe her death was just a footnote. Dawn’s death is central to our story. In 2010, we created the Dawn Brancheau Foundation in her honor to continue the legacy of the work important to Dawn during her life. The Foundation focuses on improving the lives of children and animals in need, inspiring others to follow their dreams, and promoting the importance of community service. The Foundation will continue its efforts to make a difference in our world. We are grateful for all the caring individuals who help us keep Dawn’s light shining brightly. The Family of Dawn Brancheau will not be making any further statements and we ask that our privacy be respected.”

In the months after the fatal event, the Brancheau Family fought for a court ruling to keep private a video of the fatal attack recorded by SeaWorld’s surveillance cameras.

They hired Chicago attorney John Mills, who argued the family’s right to privacy outweighed the public’s right to view the video.

“There is no constitutional right to voyeurism and there is a constitutional right to privacy,” Mills said in a statement after the Orange County Sheriff’s Office concluded its investigation.

Today, the Brancheau Family continues to work with SeaWorld to partner with projects that honor Dawn’s memory and legacy. In April, the Dawn Brancheau Foundation hosted the sixth annual Dream Big 5K Run at SeaWorld in Orland, with the money raised used to fund Dream Big Scholarships awarded to Andrean High School Students in Merrillville, the school where Dawn graduated from in 1987.

Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center.

pmpotempa@comhs.org