Earlier this afternoon, another trainer at SeaWorld in Orlando was killed after being pulled into the tank by an orca named Tilikum (or Telly, for short). According to a witness, the whale, who has been involved in two previous fatal incidents involving human beings and who our captive wildlife director, Debbie Leahy, describes as "12,300 pounds of sheer rage," leapt out of the tank and grabbed the trainer by the waist, pulled her into the water, threw her around like a rag doll, and then held her underwater until she drowned.SeaWorld officials canceled the dolphin and whale shows for the rest of the day, but SeaWorld remains open (have they no shame?!) and will continue to exploit and abuse these captive animals despite the many horrific injuries and deaths of trainers and animals that have occurred throughout the theme park's history.

The killer whale had been involved in two previous deaths elsewhere.

Dawn Brancheau, 40, was finishing up a session with Tilikum, a 12,000-pound male killer whale, after a show.

Witnesses said the killer whale grabbed her by the upper arm, disappeared underwater with her and swam to the other side of the tank, thrashing Brancheau around until she drowned. At least two dozen tourists looked on from above the whale tank and an underwater viewing area.

SeaWorld executive Chuck Tompkins confirmed the sequence of events. "We're in the process of investigating all of the people and the animals," he said.

The incident was eerily similar to one at San Diego SeaWorld four years ago, but that trainer survived.

In Orlando, Brazilian tourist Joao Lucio DeCosta Sobrinho, 28, and girlfriend Talita Oliveira, 20, were at an underwater viewing area when they saw the killer whale with Brancheau in its mouth.

The couple said they had watched the show two days earlier and returned to take pictures. But this time, they said, the orcas appeared agitated even before the incident.

"It was terrible. It's very difficult to see," Sobrinho said.

Brancheau was bleeding from the face or mouth, they said, and the killer whale turned her over and over as it swam.

Within minutes, an alarm in the viewing area sounded and security personnel arrived to escort tourists out.

"No panic, no panic" is what they said, Oliveira said in broken English. "We know panic because we see."

About 20 visitors also were escorted out of the dining area, several diners said.

SeaWorld President Dan Brown said none of its parks had ever experienced a similar incident and pledged a thorough review of the park's procedures.

"This is an extraordinarily difficult time for the SeaWorld parks and our team members. Nothing is more important than the safety of our employees, guests and the animals entrusted to our care," Brown said, his voice breaking slightly. "We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the trainer and will do everything possible to assist them in this difficult time."

Brancheau had worked at the park since 1994.

Tilikum had been involved in two deaths before. Nicknamed Tilly, he was blamed for the 1991 drowning of a trainer while he performed at Sealand of the Pacific in British Columbia, Canada.

And in 1999, authorities discovered the body of a naked man across his back. Authorities concluded that the man, who had either sneaked into SeaWorld after hours or hidden in the park until it closed, most likely drowned after suffering hypothermia in the 55-degree water.

They also said it appeared that Tilikum had bitten the man and torn off his swimming trunks, probably believing he was a toy to play with.

A former SeaWorld contractor said Tilikum was typically kept isolated from SeaWorld's other killer whales and that trainers were not allowed to get in the water with him because of his violent history.