Grieving Orca Tahlequah Loses Another Calf, Carries Body Again

The endangered mother orca, known for her 2018 mourning display, has lost her second female calf, highlighting the struggles of the Southern Resident Killer Whale population.

Tahlequah, also known as J35, was observed carrying the body of her deceased calf, J61, just days after its birth in late December 2024.
This behavior mirrors her 2018 mourning display, where she carried another dead calf for 17 days and over 1,000 miles, drawing global attention.
J61, a female calf, was confirmed dead on New Year’s Eve, with researchers noting concerns about her health shortly after her birth.
The Southern Resident Killer Whale population is critically endangered, with only 73 individuals remaining, including just 23 breeding females as of 2024.
A new calf, J62, was also spotted in the J pod and appears healthy, though its mother and gender have yet to be identified.