Professor Urges Ethical Rethink After Orca’s Grief Swim for Lost Calf
As Tahlequah mourns her calf, a professor calls for a deeper understanding of animal emotions
Tahlequah, Orca, Vancouver Island, Grief, Animal Emotions, Barbara J. King
Vancouver Island: So, there’s this orca named Tahlequah, and she’s been spotted carrying her dead calf again. It’s heartbreaking, right? This is the second time in seven years, and it’s got a lot of folks talking.
Barbara J. King, a researcher, is convinced that animals like Tahlequah really do feel grief. She’s been studying this for a while and believes that many animals express sorrow when they lose someone they love.
King mentioned that more scientists are starting to accept this idea. It’s not just a theory anymore; there are plenty of documented cases of animals showing sadness after losing a loved one.
Recently, the Center for Whale Research shared on Facebook that Tahlequah, also known as J35, was seen pushing her calf’s remains around. This happened about ten days after the calf died, which is just so sad.
Back in 2018, she made headlines when she carried her calf for 17 days straight. King feels that the way we interpreted that first “grief swim” has been confirmed by what we now know about animal emotions.
When King spoke at a Ted Talk in Vancouver, she started with Tahlequah’s story. She feels a connection to her, saying, “I do call her Tahlequah, and not by her alphanumeric.” It’s like she sees her as a fellow mother, and that makes the news even more painful.
But it’s not just orcas that grieve. King’s research shows that many animals, from elephants to cats, also experience grief. It’s a big shift in how scientists view animal emotions, which wasn’t always the case.
Back in her school days, they avoided using emotional words to describe animals. Now, though, things are changing, and King is thrilled about it.
She pointed out that orcas are super smart and form strong social bonds. Tahlequah’s behavior clearly shows she’s mourning her calf. King is confident that what we’re seeing is a genuine expression of sorrow.
She believes it’s crucial to avoid overanalyzing animal behavior, but in this case, it’s pretty clear. Tahlequah is showing us that she’s lost someone dear, and she’s expressing that grief.
King hopes that people will take this tragedy to heart and think more about how we treat animals and their habitats. It seems like people care more about certain animals, like orcas and elephants, than others, like dairy cows, whose mothers also grieve when their calves are taken away.
She’s calling for a broader moral circle, asking what we can do to help these animals and prevent more tragedies like this. King wants people to say, “I care about Tahlequah, and here’s how I’m going to help.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on January 18, 2025.
Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press