In 1991, 20-year-old trainer Keltie Byrne died after falling into a tank with three captive orcas at Sealand of the Pacific. The whales, including Tilikum, pulled her underwater, preventing her rescue.
Tilikum was later involved in two more deaths, including trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010, which led to public outcry and the documentary Blackfish. The backlash forced SeaWorld to end its orca shows and breeding program.
Tilikum died in 2017, but his story remains a symbol of the dangers and ethics of keeping wild animals in captivity.