
Brancheau on a slide out, which is a platform covered by less than a foot of water, with orca Katina in SeaWorld Orlandoīrancheau spent two years working with dolphins at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey before beginning her career at SeaWorld Orlando in 1994, initially working with otters and sea lions. Away from work, she volunteered at a local animal shelter, looked after two chocolate Labradors, and kept a variety of stray ducks, chickens, rabbits, and small birds at her home. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with degrees in psychology and animal behavior. She set her heart on becoming a Shamu trainer during a family vacation to Orlando. Life and career īrancheau was born Dawn Therese LoVerde in Cedar Lake, Indiana, and was the youngest of six children. Tilikum was also involved in the deaths of two other people: Keltie Byrne and Daniel P. She worked with orcas at SeaWorld Orlando for fifteen years, including a leading role in revamping the Shamu show, and was SeaWorld's poster girl. Dawn Therese Brancheau ( née LoVerde, April 16, 1969 – February 24, 2010) was an American animal trainer at SeaWorld.
