Orca Mother Tahlequah Grieves Another Lost Calf in Washington
Tahlequah, the orca mother, mourns her second calf loss, carrying the deceased body, raising concerns among researchers about her well-being
Tahlequah, Orca, Puget Sound, Washington, Killer Whale, Endangered Species
Washington: So, there’s this orca mom named Tahlequah, and she’s been through a lot. Remember back in 2018 when she carried her dead calf for 17 days? Well, she’s lost another one. Researchers are saying she’s now carrying the body of her latest calf.
The Center for Whale Research shared the news on New Year’s Day. They mentioned that Tahlequah, also known as J35, has now lost two out of her four calves. Just a few weeks ago, they announced that a new female calf was with her pod in Puget Sound.
But sadly, they were worried about the calf’s health, and it turns out the little one has died. They did spot another newborn with the pod, but it’s still too early to tell much about it.
The researchers are really upset about this loss. They said losing any calf in the endangered southern resident killer whale population is a huge deal, but this one hits harder since it was a female and given Tahlequah’s past.
As of January 1, they confirmed that Tahlequah is seen carrying the body of her deceased calf, just like she did before. It’s heartbreaking to see her go through this again.
They haven’t figured out the sex or mother of the other newborn yet, but it seems to be doing okay. Orcas on the West Coast are divided into three families, and each has its own unique calls and behaviors.
Last year, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Parks Canada did a study on the southern resident population and found it’s down to just 73 orcas, with only 23 breeding females left. It’s a tough time for these amazing creatures.
This news was first reported by The Canadian Press on January 2, 2025. It’s just so sad to see these beautiful animals struggling.