Orca Tahlequah, known for carrying her dead calf, becomes a mother again

friday harbor - Orca Tahlequah, who captured the world's attention by carrying her dead calf for weeks, has given birth to a new calf according to researchers.

In 2018, Tahlequah, the mother orca, carried her dead calf for 17 days and 1,600 kilometers to prevent it from sinking, showcasing unprecedented animal grieving behavior. Now, Tahlequah has become a mother again as confirmed by the Center for Whale Research. The researchers observed a new calf with Tahlequah in Puget Sound, a sea inlet in the Pacific Ocean, and named the calf 'J61'.

Michael Weiss, the director of the Center for Whale Research, stated, "Initially, we could not confirm the identity of the calf, but last Monday we were able to confirm that Tahlequah has become a mother again, and her calf has been named 'J61'. We also know that it is a female orca."

Last Friday, the new calf was photographed by an amateur nature photographer who expressed their shock and delight. However, scientists are concerned about the health of the calf, as the early stages of life are perilous for new calves. Tahlequah, being an experienced mother, is hoped to successfully navigate through the challenging initial days with J61.

Furthermore, researchers are worried about the orca population in the area, as they are listed as endangered species in Canada and considered one of the most threatened marine mammals in the United States.