Captain John Voss, left, aboard the Tilikum in Samoa ... the Canadian mariner John Voss set sail from British Columbia in a modified dugout canoe. He was headed for Australia, seeking adventure ...

In 2010, Tilikum killed trainer Dawn Brancheau in front of park guests by dragging her to the bottom of his pool Kelli Bender is the Pets Editor at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2013.