Grieving Orca Tahlequah Honored as She Pushes Another Lost Calf

Tahlequah, the killer whale famed for pushing her deceased calf in 2018, is once again in the spotlight as she mourns the loss of her newborn calf off the coast of Washington. The Center for Whale Research highlights the troubling implications for the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population amidst declining food sources.

The enduring sorrow of Tahlequah, a killer whale who captured global attention in 2018 for her poignant display of grief, has resurfaced as she was recently spotted pushing the body of another dead calf along the waters of Washington State. The news comes from the Center for Whale Research, who confirmed the distressing observation.

In a heartbreaking echo of past events, Tahlequah, who previously carried her deceased newborn for 17 consecutive days, now faces a similar tragedy with the loss of her new calf. This marked a particularly painful chapter in her life, given her existing history of grief, losing two of her four documented calves—both females.

The Southern Resident killer whale population, of which Tahlequah is a member, is classified as endangered by both Canadian and US authorities. Experts attribute the declining health of these whales to dwindling populations of Chinook salmon—the primary food source for the species—which have faced significant reductions in recent years.

According to the University of Washington's research, failures in calf reproduction can be closely linked to challenges related to nutrition and the availability of salmon. The emotional toll on whales like Tahlequah reflects a broader environmental crisis that impacts their survival strategy, as they are known to traverse approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) each day in search of food.

Tahlequah's earlier display of mourning occurred near the shores of Victoria, British Columbia. The Center for Whale Research continues to monitor Tahlequah and advocates for conservation efforts aimed at protecting this iconic species, now faced with the profound loss of another innocent life.