(TheProudRepublic.com) – Beloved killer whale Tahlequah is once again mourning as she is carrying her dead calf through the waters of the Pacific Northwest.
This mirrors her actions from 2018, when she captured global attention by carrying her deceased newborn for 17 days.
Also known as J35, Tahlequah has lost another calf, marking the second of her four documented offspring to perish.
The Center for Whale Research confirmed the death of the female calf, identified as J61, which had been observed with concerns about its health in the Puget Sound area.
The loss of J61 is particularly devastating for the endangered southern resident killer whale population, which has dwindled to just 73 individuals, including only 23 breeding females.
These intelligent creatures face numerous challenges, including a lack of their primary food source, Chinook salmon, as well as pollution and disruptive vessel noise in their habitat.
The Center for Whale Research wrote in a Facebook post, “The death of any calf in the Southern Resident killer whale population is a tremendous loss, but the death of J61 is particularly devastating…”
“…not just because she was a female, who could have one day potentially led her own matriline but also given the history of her mother J35 who has now lost two out of four documented calves – both of which were female,” the post added.
Experts are concerned about Tahlequah’s energy expenditure as she carries her deceased calf.
Brad Hanson, a NOAA orca researcher, explained, “That essentially results in a lot more drag, and so her energy expenditure is going to be fairly significant.”
“Obviously, it’s a heartbreaking, tragic situation for not just her, but also for the population,” he added.
Moreover, Tahlequah’s emotional display has sparked discussions about the depth of feelings these marine mammals experience.
Joe Gaydos from the UC Davis SeaDoc Society Program suggested that orcas may indeed experience grief similar to humans.
“Over the last few years, we realized that we have the same neurotransmitters that they have. We have the same hormones that they have. Why shouldn’t we also have the same emotions that they have,” Gaydos stated.
While the loss of J61 is a significant blow to conservation efforts, there is a glimmer of hope as another newborn calf, J62, has been observed with the pod and appears to be in good health.
However, with an estimated 50% mortality rate for baby orcas, the future remains uncertain for these magnificent creatures.
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