Why Tahlequah, the killer orca that carried its dead calf for weeks, is mourning again

A killer whale that captured global attention in 2018 by carrying the body of her deceased newborn calf for 17 days is now mourning again.

Tahlequah, as the orca is known, has tragically lost another calf. According to the Center for Whale Research, she has once again been seen carrying the body of her baby, a loss researchers describe as “devastating” for the already struggling whale population.

This time, Tahlequah was spotted off the coast of Seattle, in the United States, her grief once more serving as a poignant reminder of the deep emotional bonds these marine giants share.

Here’s what we know about this grieving orca.

An expression of grief

Tahlequah, also known as J35, was initially spotted with her new calf, J61, bringing hope to researchers monitoring the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population.

However, optimism turned to concern when experts suspected the newborn was facing health issues as it appeared to be struggling and surfacing abnormally.

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“J35 is an experienced mother, and we hope that she is able to keep J61 alive through these difficult early days,” the centre wrote.

However, on December 20, a team of researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) photographed Tahlequah off the coast of West Seattle, carrying the lifeless body of her calf on her head.

“We were able to confirm J31 had lost the calf, and she was pushing it around on her head,” said Brad Hanson, a research scientist with NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center, during a news conference.

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Hanson also noted, “When the calf appears to sink, it looks like she’ll do a high arch dive to go down and recover the calf. Whether or not she’s pushing it at that point or grabbing it, we’re not real sure.”

Scientists believe this behaviour is likely an expression of grief.

“Over the last few years, we realize that we have the same neurotransmitters that they have,” said Joe Gaydos, science director of the SeaDoc Society at the University of California, Davis in The New York Times report.

“We have the same hormones that they have. Why shouldn’t we also have the emotions that they have? We don’t have the market cornered on emotions. So I think it’s fair to say that she is grieving or mourning," he added.

Tahlequah made international headlines in 2018 when she carried the body of her deceased calf for over two weeks across the Salish Sea. With the loss of J61, she has now lost two of her documented calves, both female.

“The death of any calf in the [endangered Southern Resident population] is a tremendous loss, but the death of J61 is particularly devastating,” the Center for Whale Research wrote. “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.”

Tahlequah’s first calf, a male, born 14 years ago is still alive, as is her third male calf, born in 2020.

Dwindling population

Southern Resident killer whales have been the focus of conservation efforts for decades, as their declining numbers have placed them in the critically endangered category.

As per NBC News, these killer whales typically spend several months each year along Washington’s coastline in Puget Sound, where they are closely observed by researchers, photographers and whale watchers.

These whales are divided into three pods — J, K, and L — and have evolved to rely heavily on fish, particularly Chinook salmon, as their primary food source.

The population’s decline began in the 1960s when many Southern Residents were killed or captured, with some survivors sent to marine parks for display. By 1995, their numbers peaked at 95, but the population has steadily decreased since then.

A recent federal assessment confirmed by the Centre for Whale Research reveals the population has now dropped to just 73. Alarmingly, only 23 of these are believed to be breeding females.

The orcas are struggling primarily as the quality and quantity of their prey have significantly declined. The toxic pollution from industrial chemicals contaminates their prey and accumulates in their bodies, which is extremely harmful. Additionally, noise from vessels disrupts their ability to communicate and navigate effectively.

Despite being protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and listed as critically endangered in 2005, research suggests the Southern Residents are on a path toward extinction unless more aggressive conservation measures are taken.

With input from agencies