CNN — Orca ‘orca-motherhood-possible-again” title=”Tahlequah the Orca: Motherhood Possible Again – SPCA …”>Tahlequah‘ Welcomes New Calf Two Years After Mouming Death of Previous Offspring
In a heartwarming turn of events, the orca whale known as J35 or Tahlequah, who gained global attention in 2018 for carrying her deceased calf for over two weeks, has given birth to a new baby. The newborn calf, believed to be a female, was spotted for the first time on December 20 in the Puget Sound area along with the J pod.
"This is an incredibly joyous moment for the whale watching community and conservationists," said Michael Weiss, director of research at the Center for Whale Research. "Tahlequah’s story has been one of resilience and hope, and this birth is a beautiful reminder of the circle of life in the wild."
Tahlequah’s and her new calf have been observed by researchers, who have expressed cautious optimism about the calf’s health in its early days. While the first years of life are always critical for newborn orcas, Tahlequah, with her past experiences, is expected to provide adequate care to its new offspring.
However, concerns persist about the overall health of the southern resident orcas, a critically endangered population. Currently, the population stands at 73, down from a peak of 98 in the mid-1990s. The primary threat to their recovery is the dwindling supply of their preferred food, Chinook salmon.
"The survival of this new calf, and the long-term health of the entire southern resident killer whale population, is directly tied to the recovery of their food source," said the Center for Whale Research in a Facebook post. "Every birth is a cause for celebration, but it’s also a stark reminder of the challenges ahead."
