Killer whale attacks SeaWorld trainer

Mike Scarpuzzi, who oversees zoological operations, said Peters has been working with animals for 16 years, including 12 spent at Shamu Stadium.

“His skills and techniques, and close relationship with the whale played a major role in helping the animal calm down and allowed him to eventually swim out of the pool,” Scarpuzzi said.

The park planned to continue the Shamu Stadium shows Thursday using other whales. The park has a total of seven killer whales, including two of Kasatka’s offspring, Koontz said.

He did not know whether Kasatka would be allowed to perform.

Koontz said trainers from the San Diego park and sister parks in San Antonio and Orlando, Fla., planned to confer Thursday and review the incident in an effort to figure out what made the orca grab Peters.

Koontz said the 30-year-old orca had been performing most of her life and was familiar with the routine.

“She’s been one of our strongest, most consistent performers,” he said.

Koontz said a different whale dived with a trainer’s foot in its mouth two or three weeks ago but obeyed commands to release the trainer and return to the side of the tank. The trainer was not injured.

SeaWorld officials reported in 1999 that Kasatka tried to bite a trainer during a show, but he was unhurt.

MORE FROM LIFE

Life Section Front

Snow storm in central U.S. worsening Panic, but no deaths, in Jamaica jet crash New York City: Don't drill near our water Judge OKs wild horse roundup in Nevada Fighting breast cancer, Teresa Heinz urges tests Brazilian family agrees to hand over boy Centenarian voter lauded by Obama dies Mom of dead woman blasts EMTs 3 die in dust storm crashes Priest wins $100,000 for church in poker game Life Section Front   Add Life headlines to your news reader: