Orca Tahlequah Mourns Calf Again off Washington Coast

An orca named Tahlequah, known for carrying her dead calf in 2018, has been observed displaying similar behavior again off the coast of Washington State, USA, according to the American Whale Research Center. While orcas commonly carry dead calves temporarily, Tahlequah’s previous act of carrying her calf for 2.5 weeks was unusual, as they typically transport carcasses for about a week.

The research center expressed being “deeply saddened” by the stillborn calf, noting that out of Tahlequah’s four calves, two died young, both being female. Orcas are considered endangered in Canada and the USA due to overfishing reducing the availability of salmon, impacting their reproduction efforts.

Source: NOS

Share