Two Years Ago, This Grieving Orca Was Seen Carrying Her Dead Calf Around For 17 Days. Now, She's Pregnant Again

Two years ago, a mother orca (killer whale) caught the world’s attention and left us teary-eyed when it was found that she had been dragging the body of her dead newborn with her for 17 days.

Today, the world is cheering for her because reportedly the same orca is pregnant again.?Tahlequah, or?J35?as researchers address her, isn't the only southern resident orca who is expecting.

SR3

Drone photos show that she is one of the many pregnant killer whales that have been identified by researchers since early July - according to SR3 (a sea life response, rehab and research group).?

Tahlequah is among the endangered southern resident orca population that is known to frequent the Salish Sea — near British Columbia and Washington State.?

In 2018, for 17 days Tahlequah swam with her dead newborn. However, her motherly instincts refused to let go of the calf and she pushed her calf towards the surface of the Pacific off the coast of Canada and the Northwestern US.

Also Read:?Drone Footage Captures Mother Humpback Whale Protecting Calf From Pod Of Killer Whales

AP

CNN reports that according to SR3, ‘orca population is a large extended family made up of three social groups, called pods, and orcas from each pod are expecting, according to SR3. It's unclear just how many, though. It's not unusual for females from all three pods to be expecting at the same time, but the group said the majority of recent pregnancies have not been successful’.?

According to the online release, ‘Studies by our colleagues at the University of Washington have shown that these reproductive failures are linked to nutrition and access to their Chinook salmon prey. So, we hope folks on the water can give the Southern Residents plenty of space to forage at this important time’.?

Also Read:?75 Ft Dead Blue Whale Washes Up On Beach In Indonesia, Leaves Experts Flummoxed

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According to the Center for Whale Research space is important for these orcas to feed as the southern resident population is at a low of 73.?

SR3 shared photos of J35 online. The aerial images of both orcas show the difference in body size compared to last year. There is an increase in mid-body with, hinting that the mother is probably in the final stages of the pregnancy.?According to SR3 killer whales usually get pregnant for 17-18 months.

Here's hoping that both the newborn and the mother stay healthy and safe.