Tahlequah, a well-known orca known for carrying her dead calf for 17 days in 2018, is grieving the loss of her third calf in four years. The Center for Whale Research confirmed the death of J61, another female calf, and observed Tahlequah carrying her body in a similar manner to her previous experience. Experts express concern over the high calf mortality rate and the implications for the orca population's future.
The Center for Whale Research has confirmed the loss of J pod calf J61, the latest tragedy for J35, known as Tahlequah . This follows the loss of two previous calves in 2024. J61’s death has sent ripples of sorrow through the whale research community, as many remember the profound grief displayed by Tahlequah just six years ago. Tahlequah made international headlines in the summer of 2018 when she carried her dead newborn calf for 17 days, a heartbreaking journey covering more than 1,000 miles.
The calf had died shortly after birth, and Tahlequah’s refusal to let go sparked widespread attention. During that time, her family members took turns supporting her, carrying the deceased calf to allow her to rest.The emotional toll of losing another calf, J61, has led to a similar display of mourning. 'We know killer whales are highly intelligent, emotional, and have very strong family bonds — I see it as grief,' said Tamara Kelley of the Orca Conservancy. 'To see her carrying this other dead calf in the way that she did in 2018 it's definitely showing that she is grieving this is a hard loss.'As of Jan. 1, CWR confirmed that J35 has been seen carrying the body of J61, just as she did in 2018. NOAA wildlife biologist Brad Hanson notes that carrying the dead calf is very draining, as she has to keep diving to bring its body back to the surface, taking away critical time for her to forage.In a Facebook post, the Center for Whale Research shared the depth of this loss, noting that J61’s death is particularly heartbreaking not only because she was female, but a potential future matriarch. With J61’s passing, J35 has now lost two of her four documented calves, both females. 'I want to say it was upwards of three generations were removed from captures females are very important for the population, because we need breeding females to survive into adulthood to produce future calves,' said Kelley. '’s hitting that 50% calf mortality rate that we se
Orca J Pod Tahlequah Calf Mortality Grief Conservation
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Another Loss for Tahlequah: J Pod Calf J61 Found Dead, J35 MournsJ pod experiences another heartbreaking loss with the death of calf J61, prompting a familiar grieving display by Tahlequah, who carried her deceased calf in 2018. The birth of a new calf, J62, offers a glimmer of hope for the Southern Resident Killer Whale population
Read more »
Tahlequah Mourns Another Calf Loss, Echoes 2018 TragedyTahlequah, a well-known orca, has once again displayed profound grief after losing her calf, J61. This follows the loss of two previous calves in 2024. Tahlequah's mourning echoes a heartbreaking event in 2018 when she carried her dead newborn calf for 17 days, drawing international attention. Experts believe this behavior is a sign of her strong emotional intelligence and family bonds. The loss of J61 is particularly devastating as she was a potential future matriarch for the Southern Resident Killer Whale population.
Read more »
Tahlequah Welcomes Third Calf After Global HeartbreakTahlequah, the orca known for carrying her deceased calf for 17 days, has given birth to her third surviving calf. Researchers are closely observing the newborn, J61, and her mother's health.
Read more »
Tributes Paid to Genre IconsThe entertainment world mourns the loss of influential figures in horror, sci-fi, and fantasy.
Read more »
Tahlequah, Orca Known for Carrying Dead Calf, Gives Birth AgainTahlequah, a southern resident orca famous for carrying her dead calf for over 1,000 miles in 2018, has given birth to a new calf. Researchers are concerned about the health of the newborn.
Read more »
Tahlequah, the Orca Known for Carrying Deceased Calf, Welcomes New BabyTahlequah, the orca who gained global attention in 2018 for carrying her dead calf for 17 days, has given birth to a new calf. Researchers expressed concern about the previous calf's health but remain hopeful for the newborn.
Read more »