'Blackfish' orca Tilikum in deteriorating health at SeaWorld

Tilikum, the killer whale involved in draggingtwo trainers underwater to their deaths,is in deteriorating condition at Florida's SeaWorlddue tohealth issues, the company said on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old maleorcais suffering from a bacterial infection in its lungs that so far has not responded totreatment,SeaWorldsaid on itswebsite:seaworldcares.com.

In 2010, Tilikumgrabbed SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau in his jaws anddragged her underwater,killing herin front of horrified onlookersduring a2010 show in Florida,

Tilikumwas also one of three whalesinvolved inthe 1991 death oftrainer Keltie Byrne, who had fallen into the pool atSealandin Victoria, Canadaandwas dragged under water bythe whales.

"We are saddened to report that over the past few weeks,Tilikum's behavior has become increasingly lethargic," the company said, adding veterinarians in Orlando were focused onmanaging the illness to make the whale comfortable.

A spokeswoman for the theme park company said she did notknow the prognosis for the orca, which was captured in 1983around the age of two.

"He's battling this health issue and ... right now it'sdeteriorating so we're trying to be more transparent and makingsure everyone is aware of what we're doing and understand theamount of care we putting towards this whale," spokeswoman AimeeJeansonne Becka said in a phone interview.

Watch a SeaWorld video of the treatment Tilikum is receiving.

Tilikum's life was detailed in the 2013 documentary"Blackfish," which made a case against keeping orcas incaptivity for entertainment and damaged the theme park's image.

Taken from his pod as a two-year-old, he has been in captivity for over 30 years.

Tilikum was also involved in the death of an Orlando tourist who was found on the whale's back in 1999 after trespassing into its tank.

SeaWorld cut jobs, lost promotional deals and facedattendance drops after the documentary and protests by Peoplefor the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

The company in February reported stable attendance at its parks in San Diego,San Antonio and Orlando last year after reporting a 4.3 per centdrop in 2014.