Grieving orca spotted carrying 2nd dead baby in Puget Sound
An endangered whale was spotted off Washington carrying her calf’s deceased body over a week after the baby was first documented by researchers.The baby Southern Resident killer whale was confirmed dead Dec. 31, the Center for Whale Research said in a Facebook post.“The death of any calf in the SRKW population is a tremendous loss, but the death of J61 is particularly devastating,” the nonprofit said.The calf was named J-61 after it was seen swimming with J pod Dec. 20 in the Puget Sound, McClatchy News reported and the group said.The news of a baby brought hope to researchers and whale watchers as Southern Resident killer whale numbers have dwindled over the years due to lack of prey, chemical pollution, noise disturbances from vessels and other factors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.It’s also the second time Tahlequah, also known as J-35, has been seen carrying her dead child.In 2018, she tugged her dead baby for 17 days, the nonprofit said.Tahlequah has lost two of her four calves.But as researchers learned about the death of J-61, they confirmed a new calf swimming with J-pod and identified it as J-62.“The calf was amongst multiple females throughout their encounter, so more observations are needed to verify who the mother is,” the group said.Its sex hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it appears to be “physically and behaviorally normal.”Southern Resident killer whales were listed as endangered species in 2005 and are listed as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.They are made up of three groups: J, K and L pods. The killer whales spend summer and fall months in the Puget Sound, NOAA said.©2025 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
It’s also the second time Tahlequah, also known as J-35, has been seen carrying her dead child.
An endangered whale was spotted off Washington carrying her calf’s deceased body over a week after the baby was first documented by researchers.
The baby Southern Resident killer whale was confirmed dead Dec. 31, the Center for Whale Research said in a Facebook post.
“The death of any calf in the SRKW population is a tremendous loss, but the death of J61 is particularly devastating,” the nonprofit said.
The calf was named J-61 after it was seen swimming with J pod Dec. 20 in the Puget Sound, McClatchy News reported and the group said.
The news of a baby brought hope to researchers and whale watchers as Southern Resident killer whale numbers have dwindled over the years due to lack of prey, chemical pollution, noise disturbances from vessels and other factors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
It’s also the second time Tahlequah, also known as J-35, has been seen carrying her dead child.
In 2018, she tugged her dead baby for 17 days, the nonprofit said.
Tahlequah has lost two of her four calves.
But as researchers learned about the death of J-61, they confirmed a new calf swimming with J-pod and identified it as J-62.
“The calf was amongst multiple females throughout their encounter, so more observations are needed to verify who the mother is,” the group said.
Its sex hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it appears to be “physically and behaviorally normal.”
Southern Resident killer whales were listed as endangered species in 2005 and are listed as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
They are made up of three groups: J, K and L pods. The killer whales spend summer and fall months in the Puget Sound, NOAA said.
©2025 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.