SeaWorld challenges new ban. WASHINGTON — A federal ban on contact between killer whales and their trainers, imposed after a bull orca drowned a SeaWorld trainer, faces a challenge in federal court Tuesday as the marine park fights to keep its signature attraction. SeaWorld, famous for its "Shamu" killer whale shows, says the Labor Department judge went too far when he prohibited "close contact" between the killer whales and their keepers after the Feb. 24, 2010, death of veteran SeaWorld Orlando trainer Dawn Brancheau. Brancheau died after Tilikum yanked her from a platform into a pool during the "Dine with Shamu" show and thrashed her until she drowned.
The whale held Brancheau in his mouth for nearly 45 minutes before other trainers could extricate her body. The Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated Brancheau's death and cited SeaWorld for "willfully" violating federal safety laws that require a workplace to be free from "recognized hazards. " Wild Dolphin "Asks" Divers to Help Remove Hook. Sharks attack people Dolphins Defend. Dolphin Dreams. Bottlenose Dolphin Facts for Kids | Dolphin Photos. Commonly seen in aquariums, sea parks, TV shows, and movies, the bottlenose dolphin is a wildly recognizable cetacean (marine mammal).
In the wild, bottlenose dolphins inhabit the temperate and tropical oceans around the world, with coastal populations entering into bays, estuaries, and river mouths. Like the name “bottlenose” suggests, this species of dolphin has a short, stubby beak. Its sleek, conical body varies in color from a light to slate grey on the upper body to a pale to pinkish grey on the bottom part. Bottlenose dolphins measure around 2-4 m (6-12 ft.) long and weigh 135-650 kg (300 – 1400 lbs.).
Males are significantly larger than females. A curved dorsal fin in the middle of their back, along with powerful, broad flukes on their tail and a pointed flipper on each side allow bottlenose dolphins to swim speeds up to 35 km/h (22 mph) and dive as deep as 915 m (3000 ft.). Dolphins aren’t involuntary breathers like humans. They also have an excellent sense of hearing.