An endangered orca identified as J36 was seen carrying its dead newborn calf through Washington state waters on Friday, marking the second such troubling occurrence this year among the critically threatened southern resident killer whale population.
Researchers from the Center for Whale Research, SeaDoc Society and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance confirmed the female calf was deceased, with its umbilical cord still attached when spotted in Rosario Strait near the San Juan Islands.
Why It Matters
The death underscores the mounting crisis facing the southern resident orca population, which has dwindled to just 73 as of last year.
The repeated incidents of mothers carrying dead calves highlight severe reproductive challenges these marine mammals face due to environmental pressures.
Why Does a Mother Orca Carry Her Dead Calf?
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 (WDC), Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, orcas, Australian humpback dolphins and sperm whales have all been observed carrying dead calves.
“Like us, whales and dolphins are intelligent beings capable of experiencing pleasure and suffering pain,” Danny Groves, head of communications at WDC, told Newsweek in January.
“And like us, they have culture and societies all of their own. Many live in complex social groups, communicate in different dialects, pass on culture through generations, engage in play and even grieve the loss of family and friends as was the case here.”
What To Know
The behavior mirrors a disturbing pattern established early this year when Tahlequah, also known as J35, was observed carrying her deceased newborn J61 on January 1. Tahlequah previously made global headlines in 2018 for carrying a dead calf for over 1,000 miles across 17 days, demonstrating what researchers believe is mourning behavior among orcas.
Scientists estimate J36’s calf was no more than 3 days old when discovered, though it remains unclear whether the newborn was born alive. By Saturday, J36 was no longer carrying the calf, according to SeaDoc Society spokesperson Justin Cox.
The southern resident population faces exceptional challenges that have intensified reproductive failures. These whales depend primarily on Chinook salmon, which have declined dramatically due to habitat loss and climate change. Additionally, pollution accumulation and vessel noise disrupt their echolocation abilities, making hunting increasingly difficult.
Calf mortality rates naturally run around 50 percent in the first year, but environmental stressors have worsened these already difficult odds.
What Happens Next?
Researchers will continue monitoring the southern resident population while advocating for comprehensive recovery efforts.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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