The Heartbreaking Story Of Tilikum And Dawn Brancheau’s Fatal Encounter At SeaWorld

Published on 11/09/2023
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The dream was to join SeaWorld, but Dawn Brancheau needed experience

Dawn Brancheau’s ultimate ambition was to work at SeaWorld, but that didn’t mean she’d be hired as soon as she graduated from college. Dawn, on the other hand, understood she needed some experience to prove to SeaWorld that she was serious about working with orcas. The end result? A position at Six Flags Great Adventure. Dawn was hired by the park’s New Jersey division, where she spent the majority of her time working with the dolphins. It didn’t take long for everyone to discover that Dawn was as much of an animal lover as she appeared on the surface. The best part? All of her experiences had brought her one step closer to her ultimate aim.

Joining SeaWorld Was The Ultimate Goal, But Dawn Brancheau Needed Experience

The dream was to join SeaWorld, but Dawn Brancheau needed experience.

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Dawn Brancheau got her supervisor to work with orcas at SeaWorld

Dawn Brancheau worked for Six Flags for two years before being offered the position at SeaWorld. However, she was still a long way from working with the orcas. Dawn is claimed to have joined the park in 1994 and was initially in charge of caring for the smaller animals including sea lions and otters. Fortunately, Dawn’s job at SeaWorld allowed her to see Shamu Stadium every time she arrived for her shift. Amazingly, being so close to her dream and demonstrating her love of animals was all Dawn needed to persuade her supervisor that she should be permitted to interact with the orcas, which she did in 1996.

Dawn Brancheau Joined SeaWorld And Convinced Her Boss She Should Work With Orcas

Dawn Brancheau got her supervisor to work with orcas at SeaWorld.

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