An orca known as Tahlequah (also known as J35) was seen carrying her dead newborn calf in Puget Sound off Seattle, according to the US’ Center for Whale Research.
Observed by researchers on New Year’s Day, this is the second time the killer whale (another name for orca) Tahlequah has been seen carrying a deceased calf. The first instance was in 2018 when she carried her dead calf for 17 days.
“J35 has been seen carrying the body of the deceased calf,” the center stated in a social media post. “This behavior was seen previously by J35 in 2018 when she carried the body of her deceased calf for 17 days.” This recent loss is the second of Tahlequah’s four documented calves.
The Center for Whale Research called this latest loss “particularly devastating.” They are hoping to learn more through continued observation.
While this tragedy unfolds, another newborn has joined Tahlequah’s pod. The Center for Whale Research reported the calf appears healthy and normal, though its gender is currently unknown. Tahlequah and her pod are Southern Resident Killer Whales, an endangered population with only about 70 members across three pods. These whales frequent Puget Sound waters in the spring and fall. Their declining population is attributed to multiple factors, including diminishing prey availability and disruption from maritime vessels, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service.
