Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity

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Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity

by David Kirby (Goodreads Author)

4.3 of 5 stars 4.30 · rating details · 241 ratings · 93 reviews

From the New York Times bestselling author of Evidence of Harm and Animal Factory—a groundbreakingscientific thriller that exposes the dark side ofSeaWorld, America’s most beloved marine mammal park

Death at SeaWorld centers on the battle with the multimillion-dollar marine park industry over the controversial and even lethal ramifications of keeping killer whales in capti...more

Hardcover, 480 pages

Published July 17th 2012 by St. Martin's Press (first published April 24th 2012)

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Jul 15, 2012 Kristina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, 2012-goal-60

This is long, so first off…
A friend of mine wanted me to narrow this down to three words, so here you go: Read the book!

Before a riot starts on the thread of this review, I would like to say, SeaWorld, its supporters, and others in the animal theme park community will tell you not to read this book, that it is one-sided and that the author is not an expert on the subject of marine animals. They are correct. The book is mostly one-sided, however as noted in the Author’s Note at the beginning of...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, non-fiction

I’m not sure what made me pick up this book. Maybe because it’s about Sea World and I live in San Diego. I’ve seen them rescue random marine animals and I also worked at Sea World a couple summers during college. Alas I’ve been sort of anti-Sea World lately for reasons I didn’t fully comprehend. This sure as hell explains it.

The author does an excellent job of winding a narrative through this non-fiction piece. It reads much like a story, or at least parts of it do. The science is fascinating an...more I’m not sure what made me pick up this book. Maybe because it’s about Sea World and I live in San Diego. I’ve seen them rescue random marine animals and I also worked at Sea World a couple summers during college. Alas I’ve been sort of anti-Sea World lately for reasons I didn’t fully comprehend. This sure as hell explains it.

The author does an excellent job of winding a narrative through this non-fiction piece. It reads much like a story, or at least parts of it do. The science is fascinating and I don’t know how anyone could read this and not agree that orcas should not be kept in captivity. Some animals do fine in such surroundings (provided the proper care) and indeed even live longer. Not so with the “killer whales.” It is amazing to think a creature that normally travels 100 miles a day is confined to such a small place. I couldn’t live in Shamu Stadium the rest of my life and I’m a tad smaller than an orca.

The Shamu Show should be banned and I will not step foot in Sea World until it is…and I say that as someone who loved going there growing up, who worked there, who’s taken her children there. They do some good, which even the author acknowledges. Several times I’ve been jogging on the beach and have seen them rescue a sick sea lion. But orcas and the ridiculous (non-educational) shows are an entirely different story. These are highly social, highly intelligent creatures. They live their lives in families, not segregated from one another in separate pools. Sons travel beside their mothers forever. At Sea World the various “Baby Shamus” are stripped from the mother immediately. It’s no wonder the infant mortality rate is so high, why the lifespan is a fraction of the age as those in the wild, why so many females die shortly after having one of their calves stripped.

So either those who run Sea World are stupid or they believe their own hype: the ocean is scary and increasingly polluted, how else would the fine folks of America get to see these majestic creatures. First of all, as one character aptly pointed out, if cetaceans are affected by humans in the wild (pollution, loud boats, etc.), the solution is not captivity, it’s fixing the damned ocean! And I liked the stat about how it’s much cheaper to see the whales in the wild than pay for a day at Sea World.

Alas it’s about the bottom line. Even in court they’ve testified that “water work” is needed for the bottom line. All throughout the book those in charge constantly hide things, lie, cover up, and provide misleading data. I’m no animal rights activist. I’ll wear leather and eat meat all day long but it’s absolutely heartbreaking. These are truly intelligent, social creatures being made crazy by their imprisonment.

A healthy chunk of this takes place during the time I worked there. I remember the protesters but like all Sea World employees was given talking points (and healthy doses of Kool-Aid). This was when Free Willy came out and it was fascinating to learn the whole story behind Keiko.

This is a very important read, for anyone.(less)

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Sep 14, 2012 Ariel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, favorites

One of the most powerful books I have ever read and along with Unbroken, my favorite nonfiction read of the year. This book exposes the true corporate greed motivating Sea World as opposed to the science/ conservation image that they want the public to swallow hook, line, and sinker. Much like how Upton Sinclairs, The Jungle (another favorite of mine) exposed the seedy side of the meatpacking industry during the early 20th century, this book lays bare the Sea World behind the facade they put for...more One of the most powerful books I have ever read and along with Unbroken, my favorite nonfiction read of the year. This book exposes the true corporate greed motivating Sea World as opposed to the science/ conservation image that they want the public to swallow hook, line, and sinker. Much like how Upton Sinclairs, The Jungle (another favorite of mine) exposed the seedy side of the meatpacking industry during the early 20th century, this book lays bare the Sea World behind the facade they put forth to the public so they will not know that their money is paying for the enslavement and torture of intelligent beings. When I first picked up the book I thought the title Death at Sea World referred to the death of popular Sea World trainer Dawn Brancheau but by the time I finished I realized that it could just as easily apply to all of the Orcas who have died at Sea World so that the public can get their entertainment fix and Sea World their money.

Before I started reading this book I was under the impression that this book mainly concerned the death of Dawn Brancheau. While it does address this incident it covers so much more. In the past it didn't even occur to me to think that Orca's should not be kept in captivity. I knew the rinky dink Miami Seaquarium by me was low caliber. The tanks were dirty and Lolita the whale looked sad in her undersized pool but didn't have any problem with Sea World. I had taken my daughter to Sea World when she was five and had a wonderful time. It looked clean and state of the art in technology. The performance pools for the whales were small but surely they must have huge tanks in the back where you can't see right? This was to be only one of many misconceptions I had exposed after reading this book. What I learned led me to completely change my mind and come to the conclusion that whales of any kind as well as dolphins should not be kept in captivity.

This book begins by telling the journey of two very different people who finally wind up at the same place, as champions for the Orca's that cannot speak for themselves. Naomi Rose is a scientist who studied Orca's in the wild for many years. After she finished school she was hired as the senior scientist for the Humane Society International. She did not start out against whale captivity but her many years of research in the field led her to believe that Sea World's assertion that whales live longer in the wild is incorrect. In fact Naomi studied and came to know the relatives of the very same whales being held in Sea World's tanks today. According to her not only do whales live longer in the wild, they exhibit almost none of the behaviors that they are forced to perform in shows. In contrast Jeff Ventre was a Sea World trainer. He took a job there under the impression that he would be involved in scientific research. He soon found out that there wasn't any science happening behind the scenes, it was all show business. He was making minimum wage while performing dangerous stunts that could potentially kill him. After watching numerous whales injure themselves and others and die he began to speak up at work which led to his eventual firing. He quickly came to the conclusion that the way Sea World was running it's whale program was disastrous for the whales as well as the the trainers.

The book goes on to document just how the whales are captured in the wild. Giant nets scoop them up. In one infamous incident, the whale round up at Penn Cove, eighty killer whales were caught in one net. This was the catch that netted Lolita who lives in Miami, the only whale still alive from that day. Many of her family were killed in the round up. Whales spend their entire lifetimes with their families. Calves stay with mothers for many years. This is an important fact that Sea World has tried to keep hidden from the public and even their own staff because the routinely break up families and force whales into artificial pods with sometimes disastrous results when the whales fight for dominance with their tank mates. Sea World also splits up mothers from babies before the baby is even two. One trainer recounted an agonizing night listening while a mother and baby cried and screamed for each other before they were split apart forever. Sea World also forcibly impregnates female whales much earlier than they would be in the wild and repeatedly. This causes stress on the mothers and babies. Some mothers do not survive the birth or die shortly after and some babies are never healthy and die young.

The book also goes into great detail about Keiko the whale who starred in Free Willy. Keiko was trapped in a tiny tank in Mexico and was becoming sickly. After the movie came out a bunch of support came through and plans were made to free him from Mexico and release him back into his pod in Norway. What I never knew was the extent that Sea World tried to get their hooks into him and block his release. Sea World was low on whale sperm and they needed Keiko for their breeding program since the public now frowned on capturing whales in the wild. In addition they had a vested interest in seeing the release plan fail because they didn't want anyone to get the idea that whales could be freed. Although they tried to block the plan, Keiko was released and died 17 months later, a fact they like to crow about. At lease Keiko got to experience the open ocean again and in fact swam over a thousand miles. How much his poor treatment in Mexico ultimately contributed to his demise is still debated. In any case Sea World used the incident as a further point in their case that the it would be cruel to release the Orca's in their care.

When Sea World soured on taking in Keiko because of his unsightly skin condition acquired in Mexico they set their sites on what would become the world's next most known whale Tilikum who was residing up in Canada. Another fact Sea World tried to keep under wraps was that Tilikum had killed his trainer Keltie Barnes which was why he was up for sale. Sea World was desperate to get breeding underway so they took him on even though they knew he was dangerous to humans. People who worked at Sea World were told that if they got in the pool with Tilikum they would come out a corpse. As for Keltie Barnes, everyone at Sea World liked to believe that her death was due to trainer error. In fact everyone who was injured by a whale was injured because of their own failing. It was never the whales fault because then Sea World would have to admit that it was too dangerous to work with them. So through the years many trainers were injured sometimes even in front of spectators. When uncomfortable questions were asked a whole host of lies and covers up were scripted to convince the public that the whales were just peachy and in fact liked captivity better than being free.

The years go by. Many whales die, some very young, and Tilikum makes human kill number two, a homeless man who snuck into his tank at night. Sea World seems to deflect this PR nightmare because no one seems to really care because he was a drifter and was trespassing anyway. The breeding program grows and is quite successful with Tilikum fathering many whales although inbreeding is becoming a bit of a problem. Sea World has some extra whales and they decide to lease/ sell four of them to a start up operation in Spain. Naomi Rose does what she can but fails to block the transfer. Lead trainer Dawn Brancheau goes over to Spain and helps set up the program along with some Sea World staff. While there she befriends a trainer named Alexis Martinez.

Then comes the day that Sea World has to finally face the music because Dawn Brancheau is killed by Tilikum. Sea World's trainer error story won't tread water this time because Dawn was too revered. Instead they try to put forth the idea that her ponytail floated in Tilikum's mouth instead of eye witness reports that saw him grab her by the arm and yank her in. Whatever the case Dawn has been killed violently and in front of the public. Sea World is facing negative exposure like never before. One of the the fall outs from Dawn's death is an OSHA investigation which Sea World blocks at very turn by making trainers unavailable for interviews and refusing to turn over requested documentation.

The book concludes with the big showdown in court between Sea World and OSHA in court. In the past Sea World has been able to pressure lawmakers into making investigations go away. They even got then California governor Arnold Swarzenegger to exert his political pressure to their advantage. This time if they hope to get their trainers back into the water with the whales they will have to go to court. PETA also throws their hat into the legal ring in an effort to free the whales now numbering in Spain. Things have gotten quite critical there because the whales tanks are falling apart and a whale named Keto has killed Dawn Brancheaus friend Alexis Martinez on Christmas Eve. That was another trainer death Sea World was desperate to cover up. Incredible! While the court case rages on scientists, journalists, former trainers, and animal activists unite to carry the fight on. They formed a group called super pod 2 and you can learn more about their mission here. https://sites.google.com/site/voiceof... It is quite clear that Sea World intends to carry on it's show while pushing for expansion into China. Whatever it takes to keep their bottom line and the death of a beloved trainer hasn't seemed to make so much as a dent in their business. Until the public says enough and affects the revenue stream of Sea World they will keep on keeping on. Thankfully the whales have champions like Naomi Rose who is a true hero and Jeff Ventre and many others who are dedicating their lives to free cetaceans from captivity.

No matter what your stance on the issue is I challenge everyone to read this book. It was incredibly eye opening. I hope that I get to see these animals in the wild where they belong in my lifetime. The best course of action would be for Sea World to suspend their breeding program and to move the whales that they have in captivity into sea pens where they can at least have room to swim. After their tireless efforts to ensure our entertainment it is at the very least what they deserve. Lolita's plight is of special concern to me since I live so close to her and her tank is the smallest. She is also isolated and this social, intelligent creature does not have the company of even one other whale. David Kirby's book has made me a convert. I hope to be able to join in in some of the work being done to free Lolita. This review is the longest I have ever written but this book saddened and enraged me. Even though my review is so long there is so much of the story I haven't even touched on. I urge everyone to read David Kirby's expose of the marine mammal display industry.
PS. Ever wonder why Sea World names all their Orcas Shamu? Because they don't want the public to know how often they kill "Shamu". The original Shamu only lived to be six years old! Shame on them.(less)

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Sep 05, 2012 Brittany rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: anthrozoology

Sometimes books have to marinate in your head before you can write a proper review. Apparently, sometimes that process can take more than a month. But I finally feel prepared to review this book.

The first, and most important thing, to say about this book is that it's prodigiously well-researched and compulsively readable. Spurred by Dawn Brancheau's death (and Alexis Martínez's less-published death) and the subsequent Outside magazine article Killer In The Pool, Kirby launched a full-scale jour...more Sometimes books have to marinate in your head before you can write a proper review. Apparently, sometimes that process can take more than a month. But I finally feel prepared to review this book.

The first, and most important thing, to say about this book is that it's prodigiously well-researched and compulsively readable. Spurred by Dawn Brancheau's death (and Alexis Martínez's less-published death) and the subsequent Outside magazine article Killer In The Pool, Kirby launched a full-scale journalistic investigation into the history of orcas in captivity, specifically those at SeaWorld. Kirby does his homework; he starts out with the history of orca/human conflict, delves deep into the biology of wild orcas, and even discusses the orca/killer whale terminology divide. He gets in up to his elbows interviewing anyone who at any time had anything to do with SeaWorld who was willing to talk to him.

He studies the paradox that is the keeper/whale dynamic: the cognitive dissonance required to simultaneously love these animals and keep them in tiny pools where their very dorsal fins attest to the fact that they're not where (or what) they're meant to be. He scrupulously follows the debate and chronicles the OSHA trial. It makes for fascinating reading.

The resulting book is an eye-opening look at the history of killer whales and a distressing exposé of SeaWorld. The book does have faults: at times, he lets his glasses get a little too rosy and gets carried away with storytelling, especially regarding the human scientists. He also occasionally leans unnecessarily on Naomi Rose as a lens, putting things in therms of her experience that he could have just said straight out. But that doesn't detract from the worth of the book.

The books' detractors (SeaWorld's defenders) have painted this as a one-sided book. It isn't. Kirby works very, very hard to tell both sides of the story. Of course, that's more difficult if one side refuses to talk to you and also appears to be hoodwinking and in some cases flat-out lying to a number of people up to and including the United States federal government, but he does do his best. It's just that there's not a whole lot of solid support to their side of the story, and the bits he is able to gather only reinforces the impression that the whole thing is a charade meant to perpetuate a very profitable industry.

(Sidebar: One of his best points comes when he's talking about how SeaWorld enthusiasts decry those who suggest people should whale-watch instead of go to SeaWorld as "elitist" because not everyone can afford to go whale-whatching. Kirby actually does the math, and brings up the very good point that it's far more expensive to go to SeaWorld. Another point he counters is that people won't care about these animals if they don't see them in person. He brings up the counter-example of dinosaurs. Humpback whales would also be apt.)

This whole book reminded me (as so many things do) of a Firefly quote: "They weren't cows inside. They were waiting to be, but they forgot. Now they see sky, and they remember what they are." The orcas at SeaWorld aren't orcas inside; they've forgotten. Release and reintroduction may not always be possible or wise, but somehow we have got to get them closer to the sky, and the sea.(less)

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Jul 25, 2012 Sheilah rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have looked forward to reading this book ever since I saw an interview with the author after the death of the trainer at Sea World in 2010.

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May 03, 2013 Christa rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'll admit, I've been living under a rock. Residing no where near the ocean or a SeaWorld and not being one to follow national news sources, I had no idea killer whales were still kept in captivity. Being of the "Free Willy" movie generation, I pretty much assumed whale captivity ended shortly after that. I mean, who could watch that and believe captivity for such a large animal is a good thing?
Regarding this book...it was an eye opener. I was worried it would be a sensationalist piece, devoted...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Diane Richards rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone

Compelling (initially, I found the time jumps a little choppy, or I'd given this a 5--but once I became familiar with the cast of characters, I was fine with the style

)In the spirit of full disclosure, I'll state up front that I am a former colleague and friend of one of the scientists who was a source and is quoted in the book. I learned that this book was in the works, in fact, from Lori Marino as I worked with her to help launch The Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy. Long before I met Lori,...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Karin Susan Fester added it

David Kirby's book Death at SeaWorld documents and effectively engages with the fierce debate about whether it is good and right to keep killer whales (orcas) in captivity at marine theme parks for the purpose of entertaining the public. For his compelling argument, the author employs a wide range of sources: empirical evidence, scientific expert opinions, and numerous interviews with trainers and a host of others. Each chapter is packed with essential information and supports the author's compr...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Elizabeth Batt rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Through changing perceptions and the examination of procedures at one of America's premier marine mammal entertainment parks, David Kirby's Death at SeaWorld, seeks to answer several questions. Does captivity benefit wild orcas as the captive industry claims, and is it a truly educational experience for the paying public? More importantly Kirby queries, is keeping orcas in captivity safe for trainers?

Kirby systematically punctures the veneer cleverly melded by a savvy SeaWorld public relations d...more Through changing perceptions and the examination of procedures at one of America's premier marine mammal entertainment parks, David Kirby's Death at SeaWorld, seeks to answer several questions. Does captivity benefit wild orcas as the captive industry claims, and is it a truly educational experience for the paying public? More importantly Kirby queries, is keeping orcas in captivity safe for trainers?

Kirby systematically punctures the veneer cleverly melded by a savvy SeaWorld public relations department, until the answers are revealed with startling clarity. Cover ups, undocumented incidents of trainer injuries and whale deaths, are consistently dumbed down for the public and in some cases, not even acknowledged at all.

Death at SeaWorld is a 'read it and weep' exposé of shocking connotations. The reader is cleverly and artfully guided by the author through a complicated 'mess-story' that for years now, has been wracked by controversy and confounded by opposing points of view. But this is the quiet strength of the book.

Far, far louder, screaming in fact, is the realization that trained orcas in parks bear little resemblance to their counterparts in the wild. Learned behaviors in artificial environments could not be more different, despite the company mantra that captivity for orcas is "educational" for the public. One only has to look at "the wildly popular raspberries," Kirby writes, "when whales make farting noises from their blowhole;" there could not be a more perfect example of how anomalous these animals have become.

Death at Seaworld is a comprehensive book that astutely gathers the material that matters, then delivers it with a profound punch. Kirby's knockout format is articulate and mind-blowing. This riveting read is not one that will easily be dismissed. By the book's conclusion, the author's revelations, make it virtually unconscionable for any person with a smattering of compassion for these majestic creatures, to ever visit a marine mammal entertainment facility again.

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Sep 12, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, legal, politics, science

A gripping narrative non-fiction book that I could not put down. I've always been sympathetic to the plight of animals but I'm by far not into animal rights. However this is a harrowing and sad story of what happens when man uses nature to make a profit at the cost of human life and frankly any quality of life for the animal. Tilikum, the whale that killed his trainer in 2010, had already killed two other humans but it is clear over and over again that Sea World blamed trainers when they were hu...more

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Aug 17, 2012 stinaz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals

Eye opening and informative. While I can't say I'm a huge fan of animals in captivity in general, this book really taught me a lot about killer whales and the science that proves their unsuitability for captivity. Further, I couldn't believe how much the aquarium and zoo industry was just like the other "big" industries in their actions and propaganda - that is, just like the big agra, meat and dairy, oil and fossil fuel, and financial industries to name a few. All of these industries use the sa...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Jennifer Holovack rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Death at Seaworld is a well-written, if deeply disturbing account of the history of whales in captivity, up to and including the death of Dawn Brancheau, the SeaWorld trainer who died in an attack in 2010. Shockingly, or maybe not as a whole lot of history is revealed, Dawn was not the first trainer killed or seriously injured by an orca. David Kirby does a good job of presenting both sides of the captivity issue, an ongoing debate. As a lover of animals, and sea creatures in particular, I was d...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Kristen Smathers weiler rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was inspired to read this book after a family trip to seaworld last year. I was excited for my kids to see the majestic killer whales and the exciting feats they performed with their trainers. I was hoping to create for them a lasting memory of the trip, just like my wonderful memories. However, the show was not as magical as I remembered. The whales just looked too big for their enclosure and the trainers could not do their awe inspiring tricks in the water (since Dawn was tragically killed b...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have been drawn to orca (killer) whales since I was a child and would see the commercials for SeaWorld on television. Back then I wanted to be one of the folks who got to ride on their backs and play with them in the water. I have always been torn about the issue of captivity, and this book has helped me understand both sides of the debate. Kirby's journalist integrity brings a clear view of the facts and the history of the captivity industry. His great attention to detail about the animals th...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Alex Lewis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone!

Death at SeaWorld is by far one of the best books I have ever read. I've been very active in the anti-captivity movement in the last six months. I've been highly anticipating Kirby's book for many obvious reasons but more so to have a deeper in-depth knowledge of what goes on "behind the scenes" at entertainment parks like SeaWorld. My suspicions of these places were not only confirmed by Kirby but I was also shocked at some of the events that have gone on in the past that I had no knowledge of...more Death at SeaWorld is by far one of the best books I have ever read. I've been very active in the anti-captivity movement in the last six months. I've been highly anticipating Kirby's book for many obvious reasons but more so to have a deeper in-depth knowledge of what goes on "behind the scenes" at entertainment parks like SeaWorld. My suspicions of these places were not only confirmed by Kirby but I was also shocked at some of the events that have gone on in the past that I had no knowledge of before reading this book.

I could not put the book down and simply did not want it to end. I loved following the journeys of each individual featured in the book. I was ecstatic to learn about wild Orca's through Naomi Rose's life. I yearn to see what Naomi has in her lifetime and have complete respect for all her work. I enjoyed reading about the SeaWorld trainers and their daily interactions. At times I found myself wincing at the mere thought of having to accomplish the daily "tasks" that are expected of a SeaWorld "trainer". Lastly, I could not get enough of the OSHA investigation and the people who were deeply involved. The book is thrilling and thorough with accounts of people who worked incredibly hard to improve the lives of trainers and Killer Whales at SeaWorld after the devastating loss of Dawn Brancheau.

I found myself at times, laughing out loud, crying in utter sadness and also completely disgusted with the practices of the people involved in Orca captivity. David has done a fantastic job of breaking down complicated events so that a person, who is perhaps not as involved as I, could understand thoroughly. Not only is this book the first of it's kind, I am hopeful that the general public will start questioning places like SeaWorld and how they operate their business.

This book is going to challenge the way that people look at SeaWorld and other "entertainment" parks across the world. Perhaps for some it may encourage them to become involved and demand a change in practice and procedures. I loved every minute of reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a good thriller but also enjoys retaining knowledge at the same time. You will not regret reading this book! My hat's off to Kirby, he's done, yet again, a beyond-excellent job with this book. (less)

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Aug 09, 2012 Jaime rated it 4 of 5 stars

Chalked full of facts & very informative on captivity of Killer Whales. This was a very hard and emotional read for me considering all through high school I wanted to become a killer whale trainer. I even went the Sea World camps and programs! Little did I know what all was really going on behind close doors. They only show you the good but I guess that is what sales! Don't get me wrong, I still like Sea World and enjoy taking my children there now. Some of the programs and animal shows are...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

Death at SeaWorld chronicles Naomi Rose's life, from her childhood up through her current work. Naomi is responsible for much of the research known about orcas in captivity. David explains much of her research in the book, including her dissertation on the social dynamics of male killer whales. Her first job working with Humane Society International started with the push of bringing captivity issues into the public eye following the release of the popular Free Willy movie. Naomi has also been pi...more Death at SeaWorld chronicles Naomi Rose's life, from her childhood up through her current work. Naomi is responsible for much of the research known about orcas in captivity. David explains much of her research in the book, including her dissertation on the social dynamics of male killer whales. Her first job working with Humane Society International started with the push of bringing captivity issues into the public eye following the release of the popular Free Willy movie. Naomi has also been pivotal in other work including the eventual release of Keiko (AKA "Willy"), advocating for the SeaWorld whales and the recent OSHA hearing.

Death at SeaWorld then alternates to take an amazing look inside the horrific world of captivity and the history of many of the orcas kept there and other parks. The book delves into the behind the scenes "off behavior" episodes that not only never made it into the public eye, but were often kept hidden from the very trainers that risk their lives every day working with the whales.

Former trainers including Jeff Ventre, Samantha Berg and Carol Ray give an inside look at some of these incidents behind the scenes. Missing information in incident reports and animal profiles, SeaWorld's pressure and pursuations, etc. As a former season ticket holder who dreamed of becoming a whale trainer at one time, these stories were appalling!

Of course, the main story in Death at SeaWorld is the horrific death of trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010 by Tillikum, AKA Tilly. The book details Tillikum's capture from Iceland, as well as his aggressive past. Tilly was first held in Sea Land of the Pacific where he killed his first trainer, Keltie Byrne, in 1991. He was brought to SeaWorld Orlando via an emergency importation permit in January 1992. Trainers were not made aware of how dangerous he was. They were taught or programmed to think that it was their fault any time any whale went "off behavior". Details of Daniel Dukes, the second fatality caused by Tilly in 1999, were also included.

Death at SeaWorld exposes some awful truths and the research behind them. It will definitely change your mind about ever going to see another whale (or dolphin) show again, at least I hope it will.
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Jun 24, 2012 Sylvia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-first-reads

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
St. Martin’s Press listed the A.R.C. Giveaway.
Thank you Goodreads First Reads and St. Martin’s Press!

I was already an adult when I saw the Shamu Show at SeaWorld some 15 years ago. I always wanted to go back and see the killer whales again. Not anymore.
Hopefully this book is another step to win the battle against the multimillion-dollar marine park industry and stop the unnecessary cruelty of captivity.

David Kirby’s “Death at SeaWorld...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Amy Raby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Very interesting book, full of information both about orcas in the wild and the inner workings of SeaWorld and other marine parks. I live near Seattle and have seen J pod (including the century-old matriarch Granny). I thought I knew a lot about orcas already, but it turned out my knowledge barely scratched the surface.

Orcas are absolutely fascinating, and there's a strong argument for not keeping them in captivity, entirely separate from the arguments about keeping other types of animals in ca...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Kay rated it 4 of 5 stars

As the title indicates, this book is skewed against keeping whales in capitivity. The author tries hard not to editorialize, letting the work (and quotes) of marine mammal biologist Naomi Rose, a few former SeaWorld trainers, and some animal rights supporters do all the demonizing of SeaWorld. I did learn a lot about killer whales from this book as well as captitivity conditions and safety issues. The various attack incidents are described fully but there are no pictures, gory or otherwise. (The...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Peter rated it 4 of 5 stars

I met David Kirby at a talk/book-signing, and found him most friendly and knowledgeable, which is good because I liked his book and was hopeful he wouldn't ruin it for me. Extremely well-researched from every angle, this makes a clear and compelling case that cetaceans should not be in captivity, for the sake of them and the trainers. There were some truly unfortunate metaphors, and possibly too much detail in some parts (Dr. Rose is an impressive woman even without her entire life story), but h...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Kelsea Dawn Hume rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, reviewed

Buxom Book Brief: Death At Sea World: Shamu And The Dark Side Of Killer Whales In Captivity, by David Kirby

I won this book through the First Reads giveaway.

I wasn't sure if I'd like this book. I'm on the fence as far as animals in captivity go, and I didn't see why orcas were different. However, I grew up watching Free Willy, wearing skirts with killer whales on them, and even visiting Keiko when he was in Oregon, so I was eager to learn more about my childhood obsession.
Death At Sea World di...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Jackie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cetaceans

A must read for any animal lover. This book is devastating in the magnitude of the problem, overwhelming in terms of the factual evidence, and engaging in writing style and emotional impact.

1 like · like · see review

Jul 03, 2012 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, firstreads

I didn't expect to like this book - which came to me via Goodreads' firstreads program. I put off reading it, wondering what I'd been thinking. I knew it would be depressing. And it's long.

I skipped the introduction, going straight to the prologue. (Why would a book need both an introduction and a prologue?) And I was hooked. It began with a young trainer in British Columbia dying as three killer whales dragged her underwater, roughed her up, and drowned her.

This provides for suspense througho...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Lisa Vale rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

I highly recommend this book. I grew up with season passes to SeaWorld in absolute awe of these creatures assuming that SeaWorld was truly a proponent of killer whale conservation and education. In all the years I went to SeaWorld I knew truly nothing about how these whales lived in the wild or what their lives were like in and out of captivity....or more importantly, how many were acquired. SeaWorld is in the business of entertainment. I no longer believe they have the whales best interests at...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Suzanne Carlson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Superb, simply superb. Kirby digs beneath SeaWorld's public relations spin and uncovers both a culture of entrenched cruelty and disregard for employee safety. Credit due for repeatedly trying to get SeaWorld's side of the story -- to no avail.

Kirby provides the scientific arguments against keeping these huge marine mammals in cramped tanks, but draws the reader into the emotional connection we should have with these keenly intelligent animals. It's such a thought-provoking read!

After reading t...more

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Oct 02, 2012 David Bales rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Exhaustively detailed and researched book about the ongoing crime of marine mammals being kept in captivity; although built around the recent death at Seaworld in Orlando, Florida of an orca trainer, the author describes decades of such "accidents" and the terrible reality of high mortality rates, depression and despair among these highly intelligent creatures. Kirby does a lot of character background on various figures in the cetacean research world and the animal park industry, including Dr. N...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

I went to SeaWorld as a kid, thinking I was learning about marine mammals, but I didn't learn anything about the way orcas and dolphins behave in the wild by watching them do silly tricks in captivity. After learning about all the death and exploitation, I never want to go back.

I'm not through the book yet--in fact I just started--but I can already tell that it's a factual, compelling read. And the title alone should be enough to convince everyone that SeaWorld is no fun for captive whales. I'm...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am guilty of enjoying Seaworld and falling for all the rhetoric that they spew out to the public.
The book went into great depth, too much at times, about the personnel involved in fighting Seaworld. There were occasions when I found Kirby a
bit too descriptive and I guess I switched off a little.
None the less, I enjoyed the read, I think people should read about the plight of the Orcas, not to mention the poor trainers who paid the ultimate price for trying to entertain the public.
I read it on...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Lara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, science-nature, 2012

One of the best nonfiction books I've ever read, and one that was very emotionally charged for me. Like many of the trainers and scientists profiled, I once visited SeaWorld as a child and dreamed of being a marine biologist.

Seeing the J,K and L pods in the San Juan Islands around 1990 for the first time was pivotal in changing my attitude about orcas in captivity, and the next time I saw them in 1995, followed by a visit to the Vancouver aquarium where one lonely male was kept in tank hardly bi...more

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“Nearly one-quarter of all orcas captured for display during the late sixties and early seventies showed signs of bullet wounds. Royal Canadian fighter pilots used to bomb orcas during practice runs, and in 1960, private fishing lodges on Vancouver Island persuaded the Canadian government to install a machine gun at Campbell River to cull the orca population.” — 1 person liked it

“Orcas can be spotted from the shores of Seattle, Tacoma, Port Angeles, Bellingham, and the popular San Juan Islands in Washington State; and Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Campbell River, and other cities in BC. These venues not only offer easy access to the whales, they are scenic and pleasant places to live: Researchers who study orcas tend to gravitate more toward this region than, say, Iceland.” — 1 person liked it

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Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity

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