The story of Tahlequah, also known as J35, is a heartbreaking reminder of the struggles faced by the critically endangered southern resident killer whale population. This orca has captured global attention, not just for her status within a vulnerable group, but also for the visible displays of grief she has exhibited after the loss of her calves. Her recent loss of a newborn calf is a devastating blow to the population, and it highlights the challenges these whales face in a rapidly changing ecosystem.
Tahlequah first gained international recognition in 2018 when she carried the body of her dead newborn calf for an astonishing 17 days through the Salish Sea. This act, interpreted as grieving, touched the hearts of people around the world. Now, in a tragic turn of events, Tahlequah has lost another calf. This recent loss compounds the grief of the previous one, and serves as a somber reminder of the fragility of life within the southern resident killer whale population.
The Center for Whale Research, based in Washington state, has been closely monitoring Tahlequah and her family. The centre reported the recent sighting of Tahlequah with her deceased calf in the Puget Sound area. This calf, known as J61, was initially a source of hope after the birth of her calf in 2020 who is still alive and healthy. However, researchers soon suspected that J61 was struggling with health issues. The death of any calf is a significant loss for this population, but the death of J61 is particularly devastating because she was a female. The loss of females is especially critical given that they are needed to sustain the population and can one day potentially lead their own matriline.
The southern resident killer whale population is in a dire situation, with numbers having dwindled to just 73 individuals. Among those, only 23 are breeding females. Experts say that the plight of these whales is a reflection of an ecosystem in crisis. There’s ongoing debate about the best way to protect this species from the looming possibility of extinction. Some conservation groups have urged Canada’s environment minister to issue an emergency order, which is a rarely used legal tool to protect a species on the verge of disappearing. This legal tool has only been used twice before, once to protect the greater sage-grouse and the other to protect the western chorus frog.
The story of Tahlequah is not just about the grief of a mother whale. It’s a wider story about the struggle of an entire population. The loss of two female calves is particularly devastating, given the low number of breeding females. As stated by the centre, “The death of any calf in the (endangered southern resident population) is a tremendous loss”. The recent discovery of another calf, J62, brought brief joy, highlighting the emotional rollercoaster of monitoring this population, and demonstrating the mix of “extreme highs and lows”. The future of the southern resident killer whales hangs in the balance, and the story of Tahlequah serves as a call to action for more effective conservation efforts.
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