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SeaWorld Killer Whale Trainers To Get Back In Water

ORLANDO (CBS4) – It's been exactly one year since killer whale trainer Dawn Brancheau died after an Orca grabbed her hair and dragged her into a pool at Sea World Orlando. On this anniversary, Sea World Parks and Entertainment has announced that trainers will soon be back in the water with their killer whales.

SeaWorld spokeswoman Becca Bides confirmed Wednesday that trainers at the company's three U.S. marine parks will begin limited water work with whales within the next few months. The interactions will be restricted initially to small medical pools equipped with false-bottom floors that can be lifted out of the water.

Trainers have not been allowed in the water with whales since last February, when Dawn Brancheau was dragged into the water and killed by a six-ton orca named Tilikum.

The company says it also plans to spend tens of millions of dollars on safety upgrades at its Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio parks.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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