Orca spotted mourning her calf in the state of Washington
I think they're amazing. I think that's one of the coolest parts about living here is having like not like that kind of nature so nearby you. Orca whales are usually *** symbol of joy and awe for people in the Northwest, but this week, researchers documented *** heartbreaking moment in Rosario's Strait. *** mother whale spotted pushing her deceased newborn calf. Yeah, it's, it's not, it's not easy. It's, it's, uh, it's never easy, and I suspect it never will be easy. Research director Michael Weiss describes what we're seeing. *** Southern resident killer whale identified as J 36 observed nudging her calf through the water. The Center for Whale Research believes the calf was either stillborn or died within days of birth. As humans, we have *** tendency to try to graft our own emotions onto the natural world. But when it comes to whales, researchers say we may not be that far off. They're highly intelligent and may in their own way. Even grieve. So that intense bond, um, I think when you when you really think about what that must mean for the the minds of these animals, the brains of these animals, I think it's not all that surprising that when they lose their calves so young and so unexpectedly, that it takes them *** long time to be ready to let go of those calves. It's *** display of grief not uncommon to the population. In 2018, *** mother known as Taliqua or J35 carried her deceased calf for more than two weeks, *** story that broke hearts around the world. That same whale was spotted again with another deceased calf earlier this year. Researchers say these moments are powerful signs of grief and *** reminder that the southern resident killer whales are under pressure as Chinook sal and their critical prey continue long-term decline. We need to be enacting policies on *** broad scale that take The environment seriously, that take the threat of climate change seriously, that take our ecosystems seriously, and look at them as *** priority to preserve. In Seattle, Sebastian Robertson, King 5 News.
Orca spotted mourning her calf in the state of Washington
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Updated: 12:42 PM CDT Sep 16, 2025
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Once again, an endangered orca in Washington state has been seen carrying her dead newborn calf in an apparent effort to revive it.Researchers with the Center for Whale Research, SeaDoc Society and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said they received reports on Friday that the whale — identified as J36 — was pushing the dead calf in Rosario Strait, part of the Salish Sea in the San Juan Islands. They were able to confirm that the female calf, which still had its umbilical cord attached, was deceased.Calf mortality is always high among orcas, but the endangered population of killer whales that frequent the marine waters between Washington state and Canada have especially struggled in recent decades due to a lack of their preferred prey, Chinook salmon, as well as pollution and vessel noise that interferes with their hunting. There are 73 whales remaining in the so-called Southern Resident population.Early this year, another Southern Resident orca — known as Tahlequah, or J35 — was observed carrying the body of a deceased newborn. Tahlequah made global headlines in 2018 for carrying a dead calf for more than 1,000 miles over 17 days.Researchers said it wasn't clear if J36's calf had been born alive. Based on prior observations of the whale, the calf would have been no more than three days old when it was spotted dead on Friday.J36 was not carrying the calf when researchers observed her on Saturday, said SeaDoc Society spokesperson Justin Cox.
EASTSOUND, Wash. — Once again, an endangered orca in Washington state has been seen carrying her dead newborn calf in an apparent effort to revive it.
Researchers with the Center for Whale Research, SeaDoc Society and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said they received reports on Friday that the whale — identified as J36 — was pushing the dead calf in Rosario Strait, part of the Salish Sea in the San Juan Islands. They were able to confirm that the female calf, which still had its umbilical cord attached, was deceased.
Calf mortality is always high among orcas, but the endangered population of killer whales that frequent the marine waters between Washington state and Canada have especially struggled in recent decades due to a lack of their preferred prey, Chinook salmon, as well as pollution and vessel noise that interferes with their hunting. There are 73 whales remaining in the so-called Southern Resident population.
Early this year, another Southern Resident orca — known as Tahlequah, or J35 — was observed carrying the body of a deceased newborn. Tahlequah made global headlines in 2018 for carrying a dead calf for more than 1,000 miles over 17 days.
Researchers said it wasn't clear if J36's calf had been born alive. Based on prior observations of the whale, the calf would have been no more than three days old when it was spotted dead on Friday.
J36 was not carrying the calf when researchers observed her on Saturday, said SeaDoc Society spokesperson Justin Cox.
