Miami ( CNN ) -- Tilikum , the killer whale that killed a SeaWorld trainer last year , has returned to the stage at the Orlando , Florida , theme park . Tilikum made his return appearance Wednesday morning in front of an audience in the `` Believe '' show . Trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed on February 24 , 2010 , when the killer whale -- commonly known as an orca -- grabbed her ponytail and pulled her under the water in front of horrified visitors . Brancheau died from `` multiple traumatic injuries and drowning , '' the Orange County Sheriff 's office said at the time of the accident . Anthony Frogameni , Brancheau 's nephew , said the family did not want to comment on Tilikum 's return . `` From the start we 've decided , it 's a large family we all have our different opinions but we 're just not going to talk about that aspect of it -- we 're only going to focus on Dawn , `` Frogameni said . The Dawn Brancheau Foundation , which her family founded in her memory , says that the 40-year-old trainer 's hair was especially long the day she was killed because she was growing it out to donate it to Locks of Love . The nonprofit organization provides hairpieces to disadvantaged children dealing with long-term hair loss due to medical treatment . SeaWorld had not answered written questions from CNN as of Wednesday evening , but did issue a statement saying Tilikum 's participation in the shows was `` an important component of his physical , social and mental enrichment . '' Since the accident last year , trainers no longer go into the water with any of the orcas at SeaWorld parks . In August , SeaWorld was fined $ 75,000 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for three safety violations , including one in connection with Brancheau 's death . The agency 's investigation `` revealed that SeaWorld trainers had an extensive history of unexpected and potentially dangerous incidents involving killer whales at its various facilities , including its location in Orlando , '' the OSHA statement said . On this day when Tilikum is the star of the show , Frogameni says , `` We want people to remember Dawn 's life , not that tragic accident . '' CNN 's Dugald McConnell contributed to this report .
Tilikum made his first appearance since becoming a trainer in February 2010 . Dawn Brancheau , 40 , died when the orca pulled her underwater by her hair . Brancheau had been growing her hair for Locks of Wind , her family says . SeaWorld trainers no longer go into the water with the animals .