Orca Tahlequah Carries Dead Calf J61 for 16 Days, Repeating 2018's 17-Day Ordeal

2 articles · Updated · spacedaily.com · Aug 25

NOAA and whale researchers documented Tahlequah, or J35, carrying her dead calf J61 through the Salish Sea for at least 16 days after the newborn died by Dec. 31, 2024.
J61, first seen with Tahlequah on Dec. 20, appeared underweight, possibly premature and unable to nurse successfully; researchers said the calf lived about a week.
The behavior closely mirrored Tahlequah’s 2018 loss, when she carried another dead female calf for 17 consecutive days over more than 1,000 miles.
Scientists classify such acts as post-mortem attentive behavior rather than definitively calling it grief, but say the repeated, extended response by the same mother is exceptionally rare.
The case has renewed focus on the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales, now about 74 animals, as scarce Chinook salmon, vessel noise and pollution keep calf survival low.