The killer whale that drowned a trainer at SeaWorld last year performed publicly on Wednesday for the first time since the death.
Tilikum participated in the park's "Believe" show Wednesday morning. Park officials had long anticipated the return of the 12,000-pound orca bull, saying such performances are vital for the animal's health.
"Participating in shows is just a portion of Tilikum's day, but we feel it is an important component of his physical, social and mental enrichment," SeaWorld Animal Training Curator Kelly Flaherty Clark said in a statement.
"He has been regularly interacting with his trainers and the other whales for purposes of training, exercise and social and mental stimulation, and has enjoyed access to all of the pools in the Shamu Stadium complex," Clark added.
Tilikum was pulled out of SeaWorld performances after drowning 40-year-old Dawn Brancheau on Feb. 24, 2010. Park officials are spending millions making safety upgrades.
The park is still working on plans to get trainers back in the water with the whales. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration last summer accused SeaWorld of recklessly putting trainers in danger. The company is fighting OSHA's citations and $75,000 fine.
The "Believe" show featuring Tilikum on Wednesday once had trainers performing acrobatics with the killer whales.
WESH-TV reported that new barriers had been added since Brancheau's death and a number of other changes had been made to improve safety.
The OSHA investigators recommended that trainers should not be permitted to go near Tilikum without a physical barrier.
SeaWorld is also considering fitting a sound-and-light device that could distract a killer whale, if it pulled a trainer under the water, WESH reported.
