Tahlequah, the renowned mother orca who famously carried her deceased calf for over a month in 2018, has again lost a calf, and is currently carrying the body. Heartbreaking images and video show the continued display of grief.
The latest calf, identified as J61, was a female and died after only a week of life. Experts at the Center for Whale Research expressed deep concern, emphasizing the loss's significance for the Southern Resident killer whale population. The calf's death follows the loss of two of Tahlequah's four documented calves, both females.
Researchers believe Tahlequah, also known as J35, is exhibiting grief-like behaviors, a sentiment echoed by the UC Davis SeaDoc Society Program's chief scientist, Joe Gaydos. He noted parallels in other long-lived, socially bonded animals, suggesting mourning. While a cause of death hasn't been determined, ongoing monitoring of both Tahlequah and her newest calf, J62, is planned.
This ongoing tragedy highlights the vulnerability of the Southern Resident killer whale population. Brad Hanson, an NOAA orca researcher, underscored the importance of viable female births for population recovery, stressing the critical situation facing the whales.
Tahlequah, a mother in her late twenties, may not have had the time to recover from her previous loss, according to a wildlife biologist from NOAA. The high mortality rate of calves in the first year of life adds to the emotional and physical burden on Tahlequah.
The team continues to gather information, hoping to better understand and address the factors contributing to the decline of Southern Resident killer whales. While J62 is seemingly healthy, the long-term impacts of this ongoing crisis for Tahlequah remain to be seen.
