The Famous SeaWorld Killer Whale Tilikum Has Died

Tilikum, one of SeaWorld's most famous killer whales, has died.

The marine park announced the orca's death on its website Friday morning. The cause of death is still unclear, but his veterinarians and caretakers were treating him for a bacterial lung infection before he died.

He was about 36 years old.

California bans breeding orcas in captivity, but it's a little late

California bans breeding orcas in captivity, but it's a little late

California Gov. Jerry Brown passed the law months after SeaWorld pledged to stop breeding orcas and making them perform.

LEARN MORE

Tilikum was captured off the coast of Iceland in 1983. He was moved to SeaWorld in 1991 from another marine park in Canada.

He had been involved in the deaths of three people, including one of his trainers in 2010.

In 2013, he was featured in the documentary "Blackfish," which amplified the controversy surrounding SeaWorld's care for its animals.

SeaWorld has not brought in a whale from the wild in decades and announced the end of its orca breeding program last year.