Tilikum is SeaWorld’s most successful breeding male. He has so far fathered 21 calves and 11 are still alive. He has never met many of them, because some of them were born miles away from him in another park through AI (artificial insemination). Others he just know through the gates because the trainers fear that he could harm the youngsters.

To the public, he is known as the most dangerous animal in captivity because he was involved in incidents in which people were killed, including the most recent death in February 2010. Despite his bad reputation, he hasn't really never shown any aggression to his trainers or to the other orcas and is often a gentle, friendly orca.

When his calf, Malia was born, he was put with her and her mother, but that introduction didn't go well since Taima* kept distance from her mate. Tilikum was back alone until July 2008, when he met Takara and her son Trua for the first time. Trua was a great playmate for him and Tilikum, who is usually really lazy kept on playing with his grandson. Tilikum became a father again in January 2010 when Takara gave birth to his 20th offspring, Sakari. and again in October 2010 to Katina's 7th calf, Makaio