The Tahlequah orca, which had already exhibited the same behavior in 2018, was observed near Washington state by scientists. “I see it as mourning,” says an expert.
Her name is Tahlequah and she had already exhibited the same behavior in 2018. This 26 or 27 year old female orca was again observed carrying the body of her dead calf in recent days, according to American researchers from the Whale Research Center from Washington State. The orca, also known as J35, was spotted Wednesday (Jan. 1) off the coast of Seattle carrying her dead female calf.
“J35 was seen carrying the body of the dead calf, the research center wrote on Instagram on Thursday. This behavior had already been observed in J35 in 2018 when she carried the body of her deceased calf for seventeen days. Tahlequah was then observed sometimes pushing the remains with her nose and other times grabbing it with her mouth, according to American media.
The loss of a new calf is “particularly devastating” for the orcas, depending on the center. “We know that orcas are very intelligent, emotional and have very strong family bonds. I see it as mourning. Seeing her carry this other dead calf like she did in 2018 […] shows that she is in mourning”, considers Tamara Kelley, member of the Orca Conservancy association, interviewed by the local channel Fox13.
Population classified as endangered
Tahlequah has now lost two of her four listed cubs. His group of orcas was also joined by another newborn, notes the Center. “The sex of the calf is not yet known,” more “he appears physically and behaviorally normal”, according to experts from the Whale Research Center. The female and her pod are Southern Resident orcas, a population listed as endangered in the United States. There are only three groups, around 70 animals in total. They spend several weeks each spring and fall in the waters of Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean located in northwest Washington state.
Their numbers are declining due to a combination of factors, including reductions in the number of their prey, and noise and disturbance caused by vessels, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service. Scientists say whales are among the most intelligent animals in the world, exhibiting complex social behavior, including self-awareness and suffering.
