The Tahlequah orca, which had already exhibited the same behavior in 2018, was observed near Washington state by scientists. “I see it as mourning,” explains one expert.
Her name is Tahlequah and she had already demonstrated 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 of the Washington State. The orca, also known as J35, was seen Wednesday, January 1, off the coast of Seattle, carrying its dead female calf.
“J35 was seen carrying the body of the dead calf, »wrote the research center 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 them with her mouth, according to US media reports.
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 that other dead calf like she did in 2018 […] shows that she is in mourning”, estimates Tamara Kelley, member of the Orca Conservancy association, interviewed by local channel Fox13.
Population classified as endangered
Tahlequah has now lost two of her four listed cubs. Her pod of orcas was also joined by another newborn, the Center notes. “The sex of the calf is not yet known,” plus “he appears physically and behaviorally normal”, according to experts at 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, about 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, as well as 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.
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