In 2018, the killer whale that touched the hearts of people worldwide by holding onto her deceased calf has now welcomed her second baby in the past four years.
The Center for Whale Research has announced that their team of researchers commenced the observation of the newly born female whale on Monday.
The calf has been designated with the alphanumeric code J61. The center expressed their enthusiasm to conduct further observations of the calf.
Her mother goes by the name Tahlequah, with the designation number J35. The researchers give these animals alphanumeric identifications and eventually give them nicknames to accompany those identifications.
The health of both J61 and her mother is a cause for concern, as expressed by the Center for Whale Research.
The Center for Whale Research expressed concern about the high mortality rate among new calves during their early life. They emphasized that J35, an experienced mother, should be able to protect and nurture J61 during the challenging initial days.
In 2018, Tahlequah gained worldwide attention when she embarked on a heartrending journey, carrying her lifeless newborn calf for a remarkable 17 days.
Her unwavering determination touched the hearts of people across the globe. Throughout this agonizing period, Tahlequah carried her beloved calf on her head, traversing an astounding distance of 1,000 miles.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee took action in that year by signing an executive order to establish the Southern Resident Killer Whale Task Force. The primary objective of this task force was to thoroughly examine strategies aimed at protecting and reviving the local orca population.
Tahlequah has successfully raised three baby calves. Her firstborn, named J47 or “Notch,” came into the world in 2010. Following Notch, Tahlequah gave birth to her second calf, known as J57 or “Phoenix,” in 2020. Now, J61 is the latest addition to Tahlequah’s growing family.
Tahlequah and her children are part of the J-pod of orcas, who call the waters along the coast between Washington state and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, their home.
The J-pod, one of the three pods of killer whales, is part of the endangered Southern Resident orcas. With a population of approximately 73 orcas across all three pods, according to the Orca Conservancy, these majestic creatures are in dire need of conservation efforts.
A recent study conducted by NBC affiliate KING of Seattle revealed that the Southern Resident pod is experiencing a decline of approximately one whale per year.
Shockingly, this decline is projected to continue, resulting in the devastating outcome of having fewer than two dozen whales remaining within this century.
Orcas face numerous threats that have led to their endangered status. These threats include entanglement in fishing nets, a diminishing food supply, human interference, and pollution in their habitats.
The global population of killer whales is estimated to be only 50,000, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.
The killer whale population is greatly affected by the presence of contaminants in the water. Industrial chemicals release toxins that do not degrade and instead accumulate in the food chain. These harmful substances get stored in the orcas’ fat, as explained by the Georgia Strait Alliance.
According to the alliance, baby orcas face a threat to their survival in their first year due to the exposure to contaminants through their mothers’ milk.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, female Southern Resident whales and their offspring have been found to have “relatively high contaminant levels.”
In its 2022 health assessment of the pod, NOAA expressed its concern about the potential impact that these contaminants might have on this population.
