David Kirby - Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity

Acknowledgments

It is difficult to write about someones life, and it is difficult to have ones life written about. I am exceedingly grateful to Naomi Rose of the Humane Society of the United States and to the four former trainers from SeaWorld for sharing their stories with me. Naomi gave her time, knowledge, documents, and sense of humor, and her husband, Chris Parsons, was nothing but kind and supportive. Jeff Ventre also was generous of time and effort, despite his hectic MDs schedule, and his girlfriend, Chica, was hospitable and filled with helpful observations. John Jett, Carol Ray, and Sam Berg were steadfast in their dedication to this project and tremendously helpful in pulling it all together. Carols husband, Eric Peterson, and Sams husband, Kevin Meddleton, were also wonderfully supportive.

Special thanks are heartily offered to journalist Tim Zimmermann, and also to Colleen Gorman and John Kielty at The Orca Project; to Kim Ventre and Marty Neese; and in the Salish Sea area, to Howard Garrett and Susan Berta of the Orca Network; Kenneth Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research; Candace Calloway Whiting, blogger for the Seattle Post Intelligencer; Suzanne Chisholm and Michael Parfit, producers of The Whale; Dave Duffus of the University of Victoria; NMFS researcher Dr. John Durban; and naturalist and boat captain Spencer Damico. Up in the Johnstone Strait/Telegraph Cove area, I offer deepest thanks to Dan and Sandra Kirby of Hidden Cove Lodge, Bill and Donna MacKay of MacKay Whale Watching, Jim and Mary Borrowman of Orcella Expeditions, and Paul Spong and Helena Symonds of OrcaLab.

In California, Wendy Cooke, ably assisted by Vicky Bailey, was essential in helping me track and fact-check the births, transfers, and deaths of various captive orcas. Many fond thanks also go to Lori Marino, Michael Mountain, Courtney Vail, Jared Goodman, Astrid van Ginneken, Ingrid Visser, Suzanne Allee, Nancy Yates, Susan Millward, Bill Rossiter, Mark Berman, and Tim Ragen and Mike Gosliner of the Marine Mammal Commission.

Other members of the Superpod who kept me updated daily on all things killer whales were Pedro Bicchieri, Todd Bricker, Margaux Dodds of Marine Connection UK, Jeff Friedman, Trina Gadsen, Dean Gomersall of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Stefan Jacobs, dolphin activist and author Leah Lemieux, Ric OBarry, Ester Quintana, Liz Sandeman of Marine Connection UK, Cara Sands, Ella Van Cleave of Save the Dolphin Smile, Ann-Marie Van Dijk, Jordan Waltz, Gwen Williams, Steve Wise of the Non-Human Rights Project, and Jon Zern.

Nadine Kallen provided a firsthand account of the death of Keltie Byrne at SeaLand; former SeaWorld trainer Kim Ashdown sent me her recollections of working at SeaWorld Orlando; Michelle Dillard and her attorney Maurice Arcadier provided me statements on allegations of improprieties within SeaWorld; Todd Connell and Suzanne Connell provided eyewitness accounts of the last moments of Dawn Brancheaus life; and I am grateful to them all. I also thank author Erich Hoyt and filmmakers Gabriela Cowperthwaite and Manny Oteyza for moral and material support. Special thanks also to everyone at HSUS for providing me with workspace, access to documents, and photocopy services while I was in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Of course, my amazing agent, Todd Shuster of Zachary Shuster Harmsworth, and my longtime and highly loyal editor, George Witte, of St. Martins Press, deserve bundles of praise. Special thanks also go to Rachel Ekstrom, Terra Layton, copy editor Steven Boldt, production editor Geraldine Van Dusen, jacket designer Rob Grom, indexer Peter Rooney, and attorney Heather Florence, who has now expertly vetted two of my manuscripts. Nancy Hokkanen provided topflight transcription service, as always, backed up this time by my friend and neighbor Gwen OConnor, who entered corrections.

I wish to offer extra-special thanks to my dear friend Jay Blotcher, who helped me edit, tighten, and enliven my first draft and is one of the most talented freelance editors that I have had the pleasure to know.

I first began the arduous journey of writing this book at the vacation home of my dear friends Sasha Silverstein and Len Heisler, and on the night I completed the manuscript, I celebrated with them at a delightful Indian restaurant in Brooklyn. I thank them both for their good humor and endless support.

Finally, special thanks to other friends who were especially supportive, including Shimon Attie, Jane Bayer, Scott and Laura Bono, Emily and Chris Collins, David France, Doug Fredman, Steve Goodman, Maria Angelina Jimeno, Bob Lenartz and Patty Glynn Lenartz, David and Margaret Leveson, Lou Pansulla, Laura Perry, Thomas Piel, John Ramos, Gabriel Rotello, Matthew Singer, and Abby Cassell. And of course, thanks always to those closest to me, who helped me the most: my mother and father, Barbara and Leo Kirby, plus Nancy, Michael, and Jenifer Bue, Carlos Arturo Jimeno Gallad, and though it may be frowned upon in certain circles, I offer thanks to my Irish terrier, Wilson, because he was most patient of all with me during this challenging endeavor.