Apr 11, 2007 6:44 am US/Eastern
Killer Whale Knocks SeaWorld Trainer Off Wall
SAN DIEGO (CBS) ―
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Killer whales are the largest member of the dolphin family. (File)
A killer whale at SeaWorld Adventure Park was getting a sonogram to prepare for possible artificial insemination when she knocked her trainer off a low wall Tuesday, reports CBS station KCBS-TV in Los Angeles.
The 35-year-old trainer, who hit her head and side after the bump from the 5,900-pound whale, had minor injuries and was released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon, park officials said.
"She just lost her balance," spokeswoman Darla Davis said.
The 19-year-old whale named Orkid was getting her weekly ultrasound when she knocked the trainer off the wall next to the whale's tank, said Dave Koontz, another park spokesman. He said it was unclear if the whale intended to head-butt the trainer or accidentally bumped into her.
SeaWorld monitors all of its female orcas for potential insemination. The park is reviewing the mishap.
All but three of the 25 calves born in SeaWorld parks were conceived naturally, but the park hopes to use artificial insemination to bring genetic diversity to its whale population, said Dr. Todd Robeck, corporate director of animal reproduction for Anheuser-Busch Entertainment Corp., which owns SeaWorld.
"It's a lot easier to fly semen around the world than to fly a whale," Robeck said.
Whales are trained to roll on their sides so that veterinarians can put ultrasound probes against their flanks and monitor their ovaries.
Last November, Orkid grabbed a trainer and pushed him under water during a show at Shamu Stadium, tearing a ligament in the trainer's left ankle. Koontz said trainers do not believe Orkid's behavior was aggressive.
Killer whales are the largest members of the dolphin family. Pregnant females give birth after about 17 months.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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