Tahlequah, an orca from the endangered Southern Resident population, has once again captured global attention with her profound mourning after the tragic loss of her newborn calf.

This heartbreaking event follows her widely publicized grief in 2018, when she carried her deceased calf for 17 days, refusing to let it sink, traveling over 1,600 kilometers through the Pacific Northwest.

Her actions in 2018 included periodically nudging the calf’s lifeless body to the surface and vocalizing in ways interpreted as calls of distress.

Pod members were observed staying close to her, sometimes even assisting her in keeping the calf afloat, showcasing their strong social bonds. Her recent loss is a reminder of the emotional depth and familial bonds that define orca society.

Orcas, or killer whales, are among the most intelligent and socially complex marine mammals.

Living in matriarchal pods that can span multiple generations, orcas form deep bonds with their kin.

These bonds are maintained through intricate communication systems, cooperative behaviors, and lifelong familial ties.

For Southern Resident orcas like Tahlequah, the connections within the pod are especially crucial as they navigate an environment increasingly altered by human activities.

Tahlequah, identified as J35 by researchers, belongs to the J Pod, one of three groups in the Southern Resident population.

This population, which primarily inhabits the waters of the Salish Sea, has been critically endangered for decades.

Their survival is threatened by declining salmon stocks, noise pollution, and toxic contaminants.

These challenges not only affect their physical health but also their reproductive success, with many pregnancies failing in recent years.

The recent loss of Tahlequah’s calf highlights the precarious state of the Southern Residents.

Orcas have a gestation period of approximately 17 months, and the loss of a newborn represents not only an emotional blow but also a significant setback for a population already facing extinction.

Researchers and conservationists are increasingly alarmed by the high mortality rate among orca calves, with many linking it to insufficient food availability and stress from human activities.

What sets orcas apart from many other species is their capacity for emotional expression.

Observations of Tahlequah’s behaviour—lingering near her calf’s lifeless body, vocalizing mournfully, and being supported by her podmates—speak volumes about the depth of their social and emotional lives.

Orcas have been known to exhibit mourning behaviours, sometimes carrying their deceased young for days or even weeks.

This extraordinary behaviour suggests that orcas, like humans, experience grief, loss, and possibly a form of mourning ritual.

The story of Tahlequah resonates deeply with people worldwide because it reflects the universal pain of losing a loved one.

It also serves as a powerful call to action. Protecting the Southern Residents requires immediate and sustained efforts to restore salmon populations, reduce noise pollution from shipping and boating, and address the broader impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.