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Mother Orca's Heartbreaking Grief: Calf Lost Again

1/18/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In a heartbreaking scene off Victoria, B.C., mother killer whale Tahlequah (J35) was seen on January 10, still cradling the lifeless body of her calf, lost just after New Year's Eve. This poignant display of grief echoes her previous mourning, where she carried another calf for 17 days in 2018. With only 73 southern resident orcas left, their survival hangs in the balance.

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Story summary

In a heartbreaking scene off Victoria, B.C., mother killer whale Tahlequah (J35) was seen on January 10, still cradling the lifeless body of her calf, lost just after New Year's Eve. This poignant display of grief echoes her previous mourning, where she carried another calf for 17 days in 2018. With only 73 southern resident orcas left, their survival hangs in the balance.