In the Rosario Strait, part of the Strait of Georgia, a touching scene captured the attention of scientists and observers: the orca J36, also known as Alki, was seen pushing the lifeless body of its newborn calf, in what experts interpret as an act of maternal grief and a possible attempt at instinctive revival.
Southern Resident Orcas: a critically endangered population
The orca J36 belongs to the southern resident population, a community of cetaceans that inhabits between the coasts of Washington and British Columbia.
According to the July 2024 census by the Center for Whale Research, this population consists of only 73 individuals, placing them in a situation of extreme vulnerability.
The episode brings back memories of Tahlequah (J35), another female who in 2018 moved the world by carrying her dead calf for 17 days, covering over 1,600 kilometers. This year, Tahlequah was seen again with a deceased newborn, reinforcing concerns about failed reproduction in this population.
Reproductive history of J36: repeated losses and biological challenges
Born in 1999, J36 is part of the J pod, a matrilineal clan composed of 27 individuals. Her mother is J16 (Slick) and her father was L41 (Mega), according to genetic analysis. Throughout her reproductive life, Alki has faced multiple spontaneous abortions and the loss of Sonic (J52), a calf that died at two years old due to malnutrition.
“From a biological perspective, it’s devastating. Each loss represents a setback in the species’ recovery,” explains Deborah Giles, a researcher at the SeaDoc Society.
Family bonds and grief in cetaceans
Southern resident orcas develop deep social bonds. Males and females do not separate from their mothers, which strengthens family cohesion.
The behavior of J36, by keeping her calf close, reflects a manifestation of grief that, although it cannot be expressed with human gestures, conveys intense emotional burden.
External pressures: feeding, noise, and pollution
The main prey of these orcas, the Chinook salmon, has decreased in number and size, affecting the nutrition of pregnant females. Most mature individuals weigh less than 23 kilograms, when they should reach up to 45 kilograms. This is compounded by acoustic pollution and maritime traffic, which hinders hunting and alters the behavior of cetaceans.
A study published in Plos One revealed that 69% of detectable pregnancies in this population fail, with a third lost in advanced stages of gestation, partly due to chronic nutritional deficiencies.
