Orca Known for Carrying Her Dead Calf for 17 Days in 2018 Is Grieving the Loss of New Calf in the Same Way

Tahlequah, the orca whale also known as J35, who carried her dead calf for 17 days in 2018, is grieving once again.

On Jan. 1, the Center for Whale Research confirmed that Tahelequah's latest calf, a female dubbed J61, has died and is being carried through the ocean by her mother.

"The Center for Whale Research has received additional information that as of 1/1/25, J35 [Tahlequah] has been seen carrying the body of the deceased calf (J61) with her," the center posted on Facebook. "This behavior was seen previously by J35 in 2018 when she carried the body of her deceased calf for 17 days. We hope to have more information on the situation through further observation and will provide more details at that time."

According to Seattle ABC affiliate KOMO, the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) said researchers first spotted J61 in December. The cause of death of the calf is unclear, but experts shared that the first year of life for a young killer whale is the most critical and dangerous.

"I sort of thought at one point, okay, the next time she calves, it will be successful, but this is part of the challenge," NOAA researcher Brad Hanson told KOMO.

Hanson added, "To be back in that same position again, it's just truly traumatic for all of us, including the whale."

While other killer whales have been observed exhibiting similar grieving behavior as J35, Tahlequah is unique in the length of time she carried her previous dead calf.

Tahlequah has given birth at least four times. Two of the calves, both male, have survived. Her first calf was born in 2010, and she had another male calf in 2020. Both sons are still alive and thriving, according to researchers.

J35 and her offspring are part of the J pod, a group of around 73 endangered orca whales, also called the southern resident killer whales (SRKW), who live in the waters near western Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. The loss of J35's female calf is particularly devastating due to the loss of a potential future pod matriarch and the lineage she could have produced.

"The death of any calf in the SRKW 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 Center for Whale Research wrote on Facebook.

There is some good news for the J pod. The center has confirmed that a second calf, J62, has been born to another whale in the same pod and appears to be doing well. At this time, it's unclear which whale is the mother or what the calf's sex is.

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As researchers consider the future of the J pod's survival, preserving the group's food supply is vital. In December, the Center for Whale Research posted on Facebook that the "Southern Resident killer whale population needs ample access to their food supply, mainly salmon, to survive and thrive."

"Every single birth counts and these whales need enough fish to be able to support themselves and their calves. We continue to advocate for salmon recovery through habitat restoration, removal of dams, and rational management of fisheries in the Pacific Northwest," it wrote.