A grieving killer whale named Tahlequah, known as J35, has been spotted once again carrying the lifeless body of her newborn calf in the Puget Sound off Seattle. This heartbreaking scene, observed by the Center for Whale Research on New Year’s Day, marks the second incident of such profound grief for the orca. In 2018, Tahlequah captured global attention when she carried her deceased calf for 17 days, an act of mourning that scientists described as “a tragic tour of grief.”

Tahlequah's latest loss is particularly devastating, as she has now lost two out of her four documented calves, both of which were female. “The death of any calf in the endangered southern resident population is a tremendous loss, but the loss of J61 is heart-wrenching,” researchers noted. The BBC reports that this loss is exacerbated by the ongoing struggles faced by the Southern Resident killer whale population, which is critically endangered, with only about 70 individuals remaining.

The decline of this population has been linked to various factors, including a dramatic reduction in their primary food source, Chinook salmon, and environmental disturbances caused by maritime activity. Researchers emphasize that “early life is always dangerous for new calves, with a very high mortality rate,” reflecting the precarious state of both Tahlequah's descendants and their overall population.

Amid this sorrow, a new calf has recently joined Tahlequah’s pod. Though its gender is currently unknown, observers report that it appears healthy and normal. This development offers a glimmer of hope amidst the overwhelming challenges faced by these orcas as conservationists continue to advocate for protective measures to prevent further population decline. As efforts intensify, both the US and Canada have been urged to take immediate actions to safeguard this vulnerable species.

For more details on this heartbreaking journey, refer to the complete coverage by the South China Morning Post and India Times.