Tahlequah Loses Second Orca Calf and We’re All Mourning With Her

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Six years ago, a killer whale named Tahlequah carried her dead baby’s carcass for over 1,000 miles for over two weeks. She gave birth to a calf in 2018 but lost the baby soon after. Once again, Tahlequah demonstrates her grief after her most recent offspring, born December 20, also passed away. Tahlequah carries her newborn’s body on her head, and scientists are unsure how long she’ll continue to interact with the carcass.

Some experts have attributed this demonstration of grief to similarities between humans and whales, both mammals. Additionally, research has shown that killer whales have neurotransmitters and hormones similar to humans, allowing them to operate in a more emotionally complex way than other animals. Some species that share distinct emotional behaviors include dolphins and primates, which are intelligent, high-functioning mammals. Find out more about killer whales and their emotional intelligence here.