In 2018, a endangered orca mother known as Tahlequah (or J35) carried and **cared for her dead calf** for over two weeks, moving researchers and the public.
Now, Tahlequah has repeated this behavior by **carrying her dead calf**, as a new calf dies. Since Wednesday, the Washington State Whale Research Center has observed Tahlequah carrying the **body of her deceased calf**, causing deep sadness in the research team. In 2018, Tahlequah **carried her dead calf for 17 days**, covering over 1,600 kilometers, as a clear sign of mourning. This orca mother has two other **surviving calves**.
Mortality among orca calves is high, with **only one in five calves surviving the first year**, according to the Whale Research Center. Michael Weiss, the center’s research director, pointed out that only 50% of orca calves survive their first year.
The loss of J35’s calf is particularly devastating, as it **could have helped bolster** the endangered population. The population of **southern resident orcas**, who **feed on Chinook salmon**, has faced challenges for decades, with **only 73 individuals** remaining. Additionally, they must deal with the scarcity of their main prey, pollution, and ship noise, complicating their hunting efforts.
Brad Hanson, a research scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, confirmed that J35 **is carrying her calf’s corpse**, who only lived a few days. Joe Gaydos, chief scientist of the SeaDoc program at the University of California, noted that this **mourning behavior is common** in animals with strong social bonds and longevity, such as primates and dolphins.
Despite the loss, there was some **positive news for the J pod**: a new calf, J62, was seen alive. The southern resident orcas, identified by their **unique markings and fin variations**, travel in matrilineal groups and are often seen in the **Puget Sound**, with the backdrop of **Seattle** on the horizon.
The loss of J35’s calf is particularly devastating, as it **could have helped bolster** the endangered population. The population of **southern resident orcas**, who **feed on Chinook salmon**, has faced challenges for decades, with **only 73 individuals** remaining. Additionally, they must deal with the scarcity of their main prey, pollution, and ship noise, complicating their hunting efforts.
Brad Hanson, a research scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, confirmed that J35 **is carrying her calf’s corpse**, who only lived a few days. Joe Gaydos, chief scientist of the SeaDoc program at the University of California, noted that this **mourning behavior is common** in animals with strong social bonds and longevity, such as primates and dolphins.
Despite the loss, there was some **positive news for the J pod**: a new calf, J62, was seen alive. The southern resident orcas, identified by their **unique markings and fin variations**, travel in matrilineal groups and are often seen in the **Puget Sound**, with the backdrop of **Seattle** on the horizon.
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