Tahlequah, an orca also known by her scientific designation J35, garnered international attention in 2018 when she carried her dead calf for 17 days and traveled more than 1,000 miles. Now, researchers report that she is exhibiting the same heartbreaking behavior once again.
A Second Tragedy for Tahlequah
Tahlequah’s latest calf, a female identified by researchers as J61, was first spotted by members of the public on December 20 in Washington’s Puget Sound. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed the calf’s existence on December 23, according to Dr. Michael Weiss, research director at the Center for Whale Research. Tragically, by December 31, J61 was confirmed deceased.
As of January 5, Tahlequah is still observed carrying the calf’s body, which weighs approximately 300 pounds, says Dr. Brad Hanson, a wildlife biologist with NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center. Because her pod may leave Puget Sound soon, further updates on her behavior could become scarce.
A Powerful Bond and Display of Grief
Tahlequah has been seen repeatedly nudging her deceased calf’s body with her snout—an act that prevents it from drifting away. Dr. Weiss, whose doctoral studies focused on orca social structures, points out the remarkable depth of the mother-calf bond in killer whales. “As with last time,” he said, “it’s enough to recognize how strong that bond is and that she clearly isn’t ready to let go.”
This profound display of maternal grief is especially alarming given the dwindling number of Southern Resident killer whales, a critically endangered population with only 73 individuals (as of 2019). The loss of any calf in this group—let alone a female calf crucial to future reproduction—further jeopardizes the chances of population recovery.
Physical and Emotional Toll
Scientists like Dr. Weiss and Dr. Hanson worry about the toll this prolonged mourning ritual might take on Tahlequah. Carrying an extra 300 pounds slows her swimming speed, which could impact her ability to hunt and feed. However, no noticeable decline in her physical condition was documented during her 17-day vigil in 2018, possibly indicating that other pod members aided her in procuring food.
Although grieving behaviors have been noted in other orca mothers, Tahlequah’s extended displays of mourning are unusual. She is also known to have successfully raised other offspring, including J47 (now around 14 years old) and J57 (born two years after her 2018 loss).
Frequent Calf Loss Among Southern Residents
While it remains unclear why Tahlequah has lost two calves, Southern Resident orca pregnancies commonly face difficulties. According to Dr. Weiss, about 70% of pregnancies in this population result in miscarriages or early deaths. Such high rates of calf loss may stem from several stressors:
Pollutants: Chemical and heavy metal pollutants accumulate in the orcas’ bodies, posing health risks.
Noise Disturbance: Vessel traffic and underwater noise can disrupt hunting and communication.
Inbreeding: With such a small population, genetic diversity is limited, increasing health complications.
Chinook Salmon Shortage: Southern Residents are heavily reliant on Chinook salmon, a species whose own populations are threatened and dwindling in many regions.
Because J61 was female, her death is especially concerning for a group already struggling to reproduce.
Hope for the Future
Killer whales typically space their pregnancies about five years apart, giving the mothers time to recover from the physical strain of gestation and birth, notes Dr. Hanson. Efforts to bolster Chinook salmon runs, reduce marine pollution, and curb excessive noise pollution are all essential steps in helping these orcas thrive.
Conservationists and scientists continue to monitor Tahlequah and her pod. While her extended mourning is poignant, it also underscores the critical need for rigorous conservation measures to protect the Southern Resident killer whales from further losses—and to ensure these iconic marine mammals have a fighting chance at survival.