Researchers Believe Mother Orca Known for Grieving 2018 Newborn’s Death Has Lost Another Calf

The Center for Whale Research first became aware of the new calf, named J61, on Dec. 20

Newborn orca whale J61. PHOTO: MAYA SEARS, NMFS/NOAA PERMIT 27052

Tahlequah, the famous killer whale who became widely known for carrying her deceased calf and swimming with it for an extraordinary 17 days in 2018, has tragically likely experienced another devastating loss. According to reports from The Seattle Times, researchers now believe that Tahlequah’s newborn calf, identified as J61, has passed away. This heartbreaking news was confirmed on Friday, December 20, when the Center for Whale Research made the discovery.

Brad Hanson, a biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Northwest Region in Seattle, was part of the team conducting a health survey of the endangered southern resident orca population at the time. Hanson was onboard a research vessel when he and other researchers confirmed the loss of J61. Speaking to The Seattle Times, Hanson shared his deep sorrow: “Three of the four of us had been on the boat last week and were all very concerned about its viability then.” While the loss of the calf was not entirely unexpected, Hanson expressed the profound sadness that engulfed the research team upon receiving the news. “The general feeling was one of profound sadness, not only for J35 (Tahlequah), knowing her history, but also knowing what the loss of a female means to the potential for SRKW (southern resident killer whale) recovery.”

The loss of J61, a female calf, is particularly heartbreaking as it carries significant implications for the recovery of the southern resident killer whale (SRKW) population, which is already facing dire conservation challenges. The SRKWs, a distinct population of orcas, are critically endangered, with only a small number of individuals left. Each loss, especially of a female calf, further threatens the species’ ability to recover and thrive in the wild. Tahlequah’s enduring struggle to protect and carry her calf in 2018 brought attention to the plight of these orcas, and this recent loss serves as a reminder of the ongoing hardships they face in the wild.

The sadness surrounding this loss is not just felt by researchers, but also by the wider conservation community, as the fate of these orcas is intricately tied to the health and survival of the species. As the battle to save the southern resident killer whales continues, this tragedy highlights the urgent need for increased conservation efforts and protective measures to ensure the future of this iconic species.

Orca whales J47, calf J57 and Tahlequah J35.  PHTO: DAVE ELLIFRIT/CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH

The Seattle Times also reported that researchers have discovered the birth of a new calf in J Pod, the group of orcas that includes Tahlequah, though this calf is distinct from the late J61. While the researchers have yet to determine the sex of the new calf, they are still working to identify its mother. The recent discovery of this calf, while bittersweet, brings a glimmer of hope to the grieving orca community, especially for Tahlequah, who has endured a difficult emotional journey in recent years.

Tahlequah, the orca who became internationally recognized for carrying her dead newborn calf for over 1,000 miles in 2018, has now given birth to a new calf, an event that has provided both a sense of renewal and ongoing concern. On Monday, December 23, a dedicated team of researchers, including scientists from NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center and experienced killer whale specialists, conducted detailed long-term observations of J Pod. These observations allowed them to confirm that the mother of the newborn calf is indeed J35, which is Tahlequah’s official designation number.

In addition to the positive news of the new calf, the team was able to confirm that J61, the calf who tragically passed away, was a female. This confirmation came via a Facebook post from the Center for Whale Research, which noted that while there was hope for the newborn’s survival, the loss of J61—who had shown potential as a female orca—remained a heavy burden for the research team and for Tahlequah. The post emphasized the urgency of follow-up observations and the need for continued monitoring of the calf’s well-being.

While Tahlequah’s new calf brings a sense of hope to the struggling southern resident orca population, there are still concerns about the survival of this new calf. The team’s cautious optimism is tempered by the challenges these orcas face, particularly the vulnerability of newborns and the continued threats to their ecosystem. Despite these concerns, the birth of a new calf offers a rare moment of joy amidst the ongoing conservation efforts aimed at protecting and preserving the future of these magnificent marine mammals.

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In a Dec. 21 Facebook post, the Center for Whale Research also shared that orca whales need “ample access to their food supply, mainly salmon” to survive.

“Every single birth counts and these whales need enough fish to be able to support themselves and their calves,” the post reads. “We continue to advocate for salmon recovery through habitat restoration, removal of dams, and rational management of fisheries in the Pacific Northwest.” 

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Tahlequah first made headlines in 2018 when she was observed grieving her deceased calf by swimming with it on her back for 1,000 miles over 17 days.

The orca gave birth to another calf on Sept. 4, 2020, a male who was named J57. The Center for Whale Research described the newborn as “healthy and precocious, swimming vigorously alongside its mother in its second day of free-swimming life.”

Per the Orca Conservancy, J61 Tahlequah gave birth to two previous calves. Her oldest, J47, also known as “Notch,” was born in 2010, and her second, J57, who became known as “Phoenix,” was born in 2020.