Should the Killer Whale That Fatally Attacked Its Trainer Be Euthanized?

"World News" wants to hear what you think.

ByABC News
February 24, 2010, 6:25 AM

Feb. 25, 2010— -- At SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, a killer whale turned on its trainer, pulling her below the water and thrashing her around until she drowned. Trainer Dawn Brancheau was one of the park's best killer whale trainers, with 16 years of experience working with the animals.

Chuck Tompkins, SeaWorld's curator of zoological operations, told ABC News that Tillikum, the killer whale, may have reacted to seeing Brancheau's ponytail swinging in front of him. "Dawn had very long hair in a ponytail. That ponytail had swung in front of him. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her underwater and held her," Tompkins said.

A day after the attack, many questions remain. Why was the whale still performing with a human after it had been involved in two previous deaths? Did the whale show any signs of agitation before the attack?

But the biggest question, which we ask you today: Should Tillikum be euthanized?