Center for Whale Research and scientific reports

Orca Tahlequah (J35) Again Mourns Calf J61, Repeats 2018 Behavior Off Washington Coast

Jan 3, 2025, 11:39 AM

An endangered Pacific Northwest orca named Tahlequah, also known as J35, is once again mourning the loss of a new calf by carrying its body with her through the waters off Puget Sound, Washington. Researchers from the Center for Whale Research confirmed that Tahlequah has lost her calf, J61, and has been observed exhibiting this behavior, which they describe as an act of mourning. Tahlequah previously made headlines in 2018 when she carried her dead calf for 17 days over 1,000 miles. This marks the loss of two out of four documented calves for Tahlequah, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the endangered southern resident orca population.