In 2018, the image of the orca Tahlequah (J35), carrying her dead baby for 17 days over 1,600 kilometers, shocked the entire world. Scientists explained that it is likely that orcas go through a period of mourning, but the length of time Tahlequah mourned her lost calf was exceptional. Five years later, this iconic mother orca has just given birth to a newborn, a beacon of hope for an endangered population. But scientists remain concerned about the child’s health.
A newborn under surveillance
Last Friday, in Puget Sound, off the coast of Washington state, researchers from the Center for Whale Research spotted Tahlequah with a newborn. After observation, they confirmed that it is a female, since named J61.
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However, worrying signs have been noted. The Center for Whale Research said in a Facebook post that “the behavior of J35 and J61 raises concerns about the health of the little one. The first months of life are particularly dangerous for newborns, with a very high mortality rate in the first year”.
The Orca Conservancy also reported on X (formerly Twitter) that the newborn “had been observed being pushed on J35’s head and did not appear very lively, which is a cause for concern”. These observations, even if they remain limited, remind us of the fragility of orcas during their first days of life… a characteristic even more true for this particularly threatened population of orcas. Their numbers have declined relentlessly over the past few decades, falling to 73 individuals at the end of 2021.
Orcas dying of starvation
The population of Southern Resident orcas, of which Tahlequah is a part, depends almost exclusively on Chinook salmon. A recent study explained that these killer whales mysteriously die of starvation because they are unable to capture their prey, which directly impacts their ability to survive and reproduce.
The Center for Whale Research pointed out that “the population oforcas southern residents need sufficient access to their main source of food, mainly salmonto survive and thrive. Every birth counts, and these cetaceans need enough fish to support themselves and their young.”.
The organization added that improving hunting conditions requires in particular “habitat restoration, dam removal and sound fisheries management in the Pacific Northwest”, without forgetting better management of maritime traffic. This is particularly dense in the area and would prevent Southern Resident orcas from catching salmon.
In these difficult living conditions, the observation of a newborn therefore remains a glimmer of hope for this declining population. An amateur photographer who captured the first images of J61 told CNN: “My first instinct was total shock. As I looked through my photos, I saw a very small dorsal fin near Tahlequah. I realized it was a newborn, and that filled me with hope , even though I know that the challenges for its survival are immense”.
“All of this reminds us that for hatchlings to survive, salmon stocks must be restored to levels that allow populations to grow.”concludes the Orca Conservancy.
