'Devastating': Mother Orca Tahlequah Is Carrying Her Dead Calf Again

Tahlequah, the mother orca who touched hearts worldwide in 2018 by carrying her dead calf for 17 days, has experienced another tragic loss.

The Center for Whale Research (CWR) confirmed that J61, a female calf born just before Christmas, has died.

"New Year's Eve 2024 was a day of extreme highs and lows," the CWR shared in a Facebook post.

"We have confirmation of another new calf in J pod, but sadly, this was combined with the devastating news that J61 has not survived."

A baby orca breaches next to its mother. Orcas have a mortality rate of around 50 percent in their first year of life. ChrisRussick/Getty

Researchers reported that as of January 1, 2025, Tahlequah, also known as J35, was observed carrying the body of her deceased calf.

This somber behavior mirrors her actions in 2018, once again highlighting the emotional and ecological struggles of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) population.

"The death of any calf in the SRKW population is a tremendous loss, but the death of J61 is particularly devastating, not just because she was a female, who could have one day potentially led her own matriline but also given the history of her mother J35 who has now lost two out of four documented calves—both of which were female," the CWR said.

The news comes as the SRKW population faces mounting challenges, including declining numbers, food scarcity and pollution.

Newsweek contacted the CWR via email for further comment.

Why Does a Mother Orca Carry Her Dead Calf?

Tahlequah's repeated behavior of carrying her deceased calves has left researchers and the public deeply moved. Scientists speculate that this could be an expression of mourning or an instinctual effort to understand the loss.

According to the wildlife charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, orcas, Australian humpback dolphins and sperm whales have all been observed carrying dead calves.

"It is looking more and more likely that mourning behaviors such as these are common among long-lived mammals that live together in social groups in the sea or on land," Whale and Dolphin Conservation says on its website.

What Happened with Tahlequah in 2018?

In 2018, Tahlequah made headlines around the world when she carried her stillborn calf for an astonishing 17 days, traveling over 1,000 miles in the Salish Sea.

The tragic event highlighted the plight of the Southern Resident killer whales, whose population struggles under immense environmental pressures. Despite the global attention, Tahlequah's latest loss shows that the threats to these whales remain as dire as ever.

Why Do Female Orcas Live So Long After They Stop Having Babies?

Female orcas are among a handful of species, including humans, that experience menopause.

While they stop reproducing in their late 30s, they can live well into their 80s, often playing a critical role in their pods.

Post-reproductive females serve as vital leaders, guiding their families through challenges and sharing knowledge about food sources and migration routes. Their presence increases the survival chances of their relatives, especially in difficult conditions.

This unique social structure helps explain why the loss of a female like J61 is especially devastating to the endangered SRKW population. Every potential mother is crucial to the survival of this struggling group.

A Grim Start to 2025 for J Pod

The loss of J61 comes shortly after the discovery of J62, another calf born to J pod. While the birth of J62 is a glimmer of hope, the challenges facing the SRKW population remain staggering.

The mortality rate for orca calves in their first year is around 50 percent, according to the Georgia Straight Alliance.

The CWR cites the demise of Chinook salmon populations as a crucial thorn in the side of population recovery hopes for the endangered SRKW population.

As of July 2024, the SRKW population had dropped to 73 individuals.

"There cannot be an effective recovery of the SRKW population without an increase in this crucial resource," the CWR said. "Without sufficient prey abundance, the Southern Residents will simply not be able to sustain population growth."

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