Tahlequah (orca)

{{Infobox animal

| name = J35 Tahlequah

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| species = Orca (Orcinus orca)

| breed = Southern Resident

| gender = Female

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| birth_date = {{circa}} {{Birth year and age|1998}}

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| children = 2 living, 2 dead

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| namedafter = Tahlequah, Washington

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Tahlequah (born {{circa}} 1998), also known as J35, is an orca of the southern resident community in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. She has given birth to four known offspring, a male (J47, Notch) in 2010, a female (Tali) in 2018, another male (J57, Phoenix) in 2020, and another female (J61) in 2024. Her second calf, Tali, died shortly after birth, and J35 carried her body for 17 days in an apparent show of grief that attracted international attention. Her fourth calf died within days of her birth and was also carried by Tahlequah.

Name

J35 was given the name Tahlequah by The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, Washington, as part of their Adopt-a-Whale outreach program. One of her adopters was Malia Obama, daughter of former United States President Barack Obama.{{cite news |last=Rasmussen |first=Scott |date=June 9, 2015 |title=New allies in killer whale recovery? Orcas adopted by Obama girls |url=http://www.sanjuanjournal.com/news/new-allies-in-killer-whale-recovery-orcas-adopted-by-obama-girls/ |work=San Juan Journal |accessdate=July 31, 2018}}

Life

J35 was born in 1998 to J17 (Princess Angeline), a member of the J pod of the Southern Resident community, and has two living siblings.{{cite web |author=Center for Whale Research |date=June 17, 2018 |title=Southern Resident Orca Community Demographics, Composition of Pods, Births and Deaths since 1998 |url=https://www.orcanetwork.org/Main/index.php?categories_file=Births%20and%20Deaths |publisher=Orca Network |accessdate=July 31, 2018 |archive-date=June 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618025651/https://www.orcanetwork.org/Main/index.php?categories_file=Births%20and%20Deaths |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=J-35 Tahlequah |url=https://whalemuseum.org/products/j-35-tahlequah |publisher=The Whale Museum |accessdate=July 31, 2018}} J35's first calf, a male named J47 (Notch), was born in 2010, and researchers speculated that she miscarried another calf in the mid-2010s.{{cite news |last=Dwyer |first=Colin |date=July 31, 2018 |title=After Calf's Death, Orca Mother Carries It For Days In 'Tragic Tour Of Grief' |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/31/634314741/after-calfs-death-orca-mother-carries-it-for-days-in-tragic-tour-of-grief |publisher=NPR |accessdate=July 31, 2018}} After the death of her sister J28 (Polaris) in 2016, J35 cared for her two offspring, until one, that was still milk-dependent, starved to death.{{cite news |last=Calloway Whiting |first=Candace |date=July 27, 2018 |title=Grieving mother whale is now on her third day of carrying her dead calf – the face of extinction |url=https://blog.seattlepi.com/candacewhiting/2018/07/27/grieving-mother-whale-is-now-on-her-third-day-of-carrying-her-dead-calf-the-face-of-extinction/ |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=July 31, 2018 |archive-date=August 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801094148/https://blog.seattlepi.com/candacewhiting/2018/07/27/grieving-mother-whale-is-now-on-her-third-day-of-carrying-her-dead-calf-the-face-of-extinction/ |url-status=dead }}

Her second calf (Tali), a female, was born on July 24, 2018, off Victoria, British Columbia; she was alive, but she died within a half-hour of her birth.{{cite news |last=Mapes |first=Lynda V. |date=July 24, 2018 |title=Southern-resident killer whales lose newborn calf, and another youngster is ailing |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/southern-resident-killer-whales-lose-newborn-calf-and-another-youngster-is-ailing/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=July 31, 2018}} The infant population and health of the Southern Residents community had declined in the early 21st century, due in part to a smaller supply of Chinook salmon and the presence of polluting substances in the Salish Sea.

J35 carried the calf's body on her rostrum while following the pod around the San Juan Islands and interior waters of British Columbia over the following two weeks. Whale researchers noted that J35 looked emaciated, and other pod members were showing concern for her health.{{cite news |last=Mapes |first=Lynda V. |date=July 30, 2018 |title=Grieving mother orca falling behind family as she carries dead calf for a seventh day |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/grieving-mother-orca-falling-behind-family-as-she-carries-dead-calf-for-a-seventh-day/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=July 31, 2018}} After the seventh day, other members began taking turns floating the calf while allowing J35 to rest.{{cite news |date=August 1, 2018 |title=Orcas now taking turns floating dead calf in apparent mourning ritual |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-tuesday-edition-1.4768344/orcas-now-appear-to-be-taking-turns-floating-dead-calf-in-apparent-mourning-ritual-1.4768349 |publisher=CBC Radio |accessdate=August 1, 2018}} By the ninth day, the calf had shown signs of decomposition and was becoming harder to carry.{{cite news |last=Phorn |first=Bopha |date=August 1, 2018 |title=Researchers found orca whale still holding on to her dead calf 9 days later |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/researchers-found-orca-whale-holding-dead-calf-days/story?id=56965753 |publisher=ABC News |accessdate=August 1, 2018}} The pod disappeared for several days in early August but were spotted on August 8, with J35 still carrying her calf, Tali, after 16 days.{{cite news |last=Mapes |first=Lynda V. |date=August 8, 2018 |title='I am sobbing': Mother orca still carrying her dead calf — 16 days later |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/i-am-sobbing-mother-orca-still-carrying-her-dead-calf-16-days-later/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 8, 2018}}{{cite news |last=Mapes |first=Lynda V. |date=August 6, 2018 |title=Lummi Nation, biologists prepare to feed starving orca. But where is she? |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/rescue-effort-for-sick-orca-underway-but-familys-location-remains-unknown/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 6, 2018}} By the next day, after {{convert|1,000|mi|km}} of swimming, J35 released the calf and rejoined the J pod with no apparent signs of malnutrition or ill health.{{cite news |last=Mapes |first=Lynda V. |date=August 11, 2018 |title=After 17 days and 1,000 miles, mother orca Tahlequah drops her dead calf |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/after-17-days-and-1000-miles-mother-orca-tahlequah-drops-her-dead-calf/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 11, 2018}}{{cite news |last=Selk |first=Avi |date=August 10, 2018 |title=The stunning, devastating, weeks-long journey of an orca and her dead calf |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2018/08/10/the-stunning-devastating-weeks-long-journey-of-an-orca-and-her-dead-calf/ |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=August 11, 2018}}

Her unusually long period of grieving attracted international attention and an outpouring of sympathy, comparing her actions to that of a human mother.{{cite news |last=Mapes |first=Lynda V. |date=July 28, 2018 |title=Orca mother carries dead calf for sixth day as family stays close by |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/orca-mother-carries-dead-calf-for-fifth-day-her-entire-family-is-also-staying-close-by/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=July 31, 2018}} The ongoing crisis within the Southern Residents community prompted calls for intervention, including dam removals and the increased killing of sea lions who interfere with salmon growth in the Columbia River.{{cite news |last=Le |first=Phoung |date=July 25, 2018 |title=New endangered Puget Sound orca dies soon after birth |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/jul/25/new-endangered-puget-sound-orca-dies-soon-after-bi/ |work=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=August 1, 2018}}{{cite news |last=Banse |first=Tom |date=July 31, 2018 |title=Congress Voting To Let More Sea Lions Be Killed To Protect Salmon |url=http://www.kuow.org/post/congress-voting-let-more-sea-lions-be-killed-protect-salmon |publisher=KUOW |accessdate=August 1, 2018}} Washington Governor Jay Inslee stated that he supported new measures to address orca-related issues and would work with state and federal officials to find short-term solutions.{{cite news |last=Del Rosario |first=Simone |date=July 26, 2018 |title=Inslee voices support for short-term action on orcas as long-term decisions loom |url=https://q13fox.com/2018/07/26/inslee-voices-support-for-short-term-action-on-orcas-as-long-term-decisions-loom/ |publisher=Q13 Fox |accessdate=August 1, 2018}}

In July 2020, a drone survey of the J, K, and L pods revealed that J35 showed signs of an active pregnancy.{{cite news |last=Mapes |first=Lynda V. |date=July 27, 2020 |title=Tahlequah, the orca who carried her dead calf for 17 days, is pregnant again |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/tahlequah-the-orca-who-carried-her-dead-calf-for-17-days-is-pregnant-again/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=July 27, 2020}} She gave birth to a male calf on September 5 near the San Juan Islands.{{cite news |last=Mapes |first=Lynda V. |date=September 5, 2020 |title=Orca Tahlequah is a mother again |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/orca-tahlequah-is-a-mother-again/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=September 6, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Mike |date=September 6, 2020 |title=Orca That Carried Dead Calf for 17 Days Gives Birth Again |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/06/us/orca-calf-j35-j57-whale.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=September 6, 2020}} The calf was named J57 by the Center for Whale Research and nicknamed Phoenix by the museum.{{cite news |last=Mapes |first=Lynda V. |date=September 23, 2020 |title=It's a boy: Tahlequah's baby orca is frolicking, healthy |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/its-a-boy-tahlequahs-baby-is-frolicking-healthy/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=September 25, 2020}}

J35 gave birth to another calf in December 2024. The calf was first reported by observers on December 20. Whale researchers identified the new calf as female and named her J61 on December 23 but expressed concern about her condition.{{cite news |last1=Razek |first1=Raja |last2=Jackson |first2=Amanda |date=December 24, 2024 |title=Orca carried her dead calf for 17 days. She now has a new baby |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/24/us/tahlequah-orca-calf/index.html |publisher=CNN |accessdate=December 24, 2024}} On December 31, J61 was declared dead after a health study of the Southern Residents; she had been pushed along by her mother and "looked lethargic" on the December 23 and December 24 viewings.{{cite news |last=Mapes |first=Lynda V. |date=December 31, 2024 |title=Orca Tahlequah's new baby dies |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/orca-tahlequahs-new-baby-dies/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 1, 2025}}{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=John |date=December 30, 2024 |title=Endangered orcas' circle of life: one baby dies, another is born |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/oh-baby-orca-j61-still-alive-after-days-missing |publisher=KUOW |accessdate=January 1, 2025}} On January 1, 2025, J35 was observed near Vashon Island in Puget Sound carrying J61's body.{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=John |date=January 1, 2025 |title=Famous orca mom carries another dead calf around Puget Sound |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/orca-mom-loses-another-calf-and-carries-it-around-puget-sound |publisher=KUOW |accessdate=January 2, 2025}}{{cite news |last=Hassan |first=Adeel |date=January 2, 2025 |title=Orca That Carried Dead Calf for Weeks Is Mourning Again |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/02/us/mother-orca-tahlequah-calf-dead.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=January 2, 2025}} Her mourning period continued for over 11 days;{{cite news |last=Mapes |first=Lynda V. |date=January 10, 2025 |title=Mother orca Tahlequah still carries dead calf after 11 days |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/mother-orca-tahlequah-still-carries-dead-calf-after-11-days/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 10, 2025}} a sighting on February 8 confirmed that she was no longer carrying J61's body.{{cite news |last=Sundell |first=Allison |date=February 17, 2025 |title=Welcome J62: A new female orca joins the Southern Resident family |url=https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/orcas/new-j62-orca-calf-girl/281-70d11781-6cf1-442b-a328-768707358e0d |publisher=KING 5 News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}

Tahlequah (orca)

Name

Life

See also

References

Further reading