Orca who carried her dead calf for more than two weeks is pregnant again

Tahlequah made headlines around the world two years ago when she was seen near the San Juan Islands, day after day, carrying her dead calf with her for more than two weeks and 1,000 miles. She’s now pregnant again.

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The Seattle Times reports that Tahlequah lost a calf before the one in 2018, which is just one reason experts are cautiously optimistic about this pregnancy.

“Well, I guess we have to be cautiously elated because it’s a great thing, I mean, it shows hope, and the prospect of a new baby could come into the world,” said Howard Garrett of the Orca Network.

The gestation period for an orca is 15-18 months, so it could be more than a year until we know what happens.

Garrett says Tahlequah, also known has J-35, has a one in three chance of giving birth, and then the calf has a 50% chance of surviving its first year.

While pregnancies are not unusual, most pregnancies for the southern resident whales are not successful. Tahlequah does have one, grown offspring who is still part of the pod.

“Every baby absolutely counts, and they’ve been too scarce,” Garrett said. “There are many females out there that should have had three or four calves by now that may have had one.”

Unfortunately, the southern residents are struggling to survive, and it’s an especially difficult time for pregnant orca whales.

“This is now a precarious time for her, for any pregnant orca, in the southern resident community,” Garrett said. “They need more food than usual, and that is what is too scarce for them right now.”

The KIRO Radio Newsdesk contributed to this report.