An orca who broke hearts around the world by carrying the body of her dead calf in 2018 has lost another calf and appears to be doing the same thing.

Tahlequah, or J35, a southern resident orca, was documented carrying the body of her deceased calf for 17 days in 2018. The calf had died shortly after birth, but J35 kept the remains of her offspring by her side long after that, which scientists believe may have been a sign of grief. Orcas are social animals that live in close matrilineal groups, and offspring stay with their mothers throughout their lives.

The Center for Whale Research, which tracks the endangered southern resident orca population, shared the news that J35 had given birth to a new calf in a Christmas Eve post. The new arrival had been dubbed J61. Despite the happy news, there was concern about the calf’s health based on the behavior of mother and daughter.

Unfortunately, on New Year’s, the center shared that J61 had died and that J35 appeared to be carrying her body around, as well.

Brad Hanson, research scientist at the NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center, said at a press conference the next day, “We were able to confirm [she] had lost the calf and she was pushing it around on her head… it looks like she’ll do a high arch dive to go down and recover the calf, and whether or not she’s pushing it at that point or grabbing it, we’re not real sure.” 

Hanson told The Seattle Times that this behavior is concerning for J35, both due to her apparent commitment to these calves that have died and because of the energy cost and possible lost foraging opportunities. 

Though J35 has lost two calves, she’s also had two surviving male calves. This likely puts her in line with other orca mothers.

Michael Weiss, research director at the Center for Whale Research, says, “We don’t know exactly what the survival rate is, because so many calves are probably being born and dying before they’re ever photographed and documented. It’s likely closer to, you know, 50% of calves are born that make it through that first year.” 

The loss of a southern resident orca is serious for the population, though, as it’s currently down to only 73 individuals. The population, which is often found in the Puget Sound, experienced declines in the past when their members were taken to perform at aquariums. These days, their threats include diminishing Chinook salmon, their preferred food; pollution from industrial chemicals; and vessel noise disrupting their hunts.