Killer whale to stay at Florida park

SEAWORLD in Florida has said it will keep the killer whale that drowned its trainer, despite calls to free or destroy the animal.

However, the park is set to suspend all orca shows while it decides whether to change the way handlers work with the animals.

And visitors who were occasionally invited to pet the killer whales will no longer be allowed to do so.

Dawn Brancheau, a 40-year-old veteran trainer who adored whales, died after 22-foot Tilikum grabbed her ponytail and pulled her into the water.

Chuck Tompkins, chief of animal training at SeaWorld parks, said: “We’re going to make any changes we have to, to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”