Endangered Orca Tahlequah Mourns Loss of Another Calf

Tahlequah, known for carrying her deceased calf for 17 days in 2018, is observed grieving again after losing a newborn off the coast of Washington.

Tahlequah, a 25-year-old orca from the endangered Southern Resident population, was seen carrying her deceased calf near Seattle this week.
This is the second time Tahlequah has exhibited grieving behavior, following a similar event in 2018 when she carried a calf for 17 days and over 1,500 kilometers.
The recently deceased calf was born just days before its death, marking another tragic loss for the declining Southern Resident orca population.
The Southern Resident orcas are critically endangered, with only about 70 individuals remaining due to factors like prey scarcity and marine disturbances.
Scientists continue to monitor Tahlequah and her group, which includes a new healthy calf born to another member of the pod.