This article sums up a valuable perspective.
Gayle
Killer Whale Attack? Time to Free the Orcas.
The fatal and tragic attack on a Sea World trainer by a captive killer whale in Orlando, Florida, should reopen the debate on whether the large, intelligent mammals should be kept in captivity.
The media has created a feeding frenzy around this tragedy, with teases of "why they're called 'killer' whales," and using breathless leads to paint an image of a killer whale tearing apart the trainer like a seal, when the victim -- again, no excusing or defending the whale -- was reportedly drowned. They say "crowds" gasped, and then report only two dozen tourists lingering after a show. It makes one wonder if they were called "zebra whales" for their black and white patterning, would the press have the same kind of field day with the story?
Read more:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/yaki/detail?entry_id=57923#ixzz0gYtyQwDi