Endangered Southern Resident Orca Pushes Dead Calf Near San Juans

Researchers confirmed that J36, a female orca from the endangered southern resident killer whale population, was seen pushing her deceased full-term or near full-term calf in the Salish Sea near the San Juan Islands. The calf, a female neonate with the umbilical cord still attached, was estimated to have been born within the previous three days, though it remains unclear whether it was a stillbirth or died shortly after birth. This behavior, considered an expression of grief, echoes a similar incident in 2018 involving orca J35 Tahlequah, who carried her dead calf for over two weeks, and again in early 2025. Southern resident killer whales, numbering fewer than 75 individuals, face high pregnancy loss rates, with nearly 70% of pregnancies ending in miscarriage or early calf death, threatening the population's survival. Factors such as declining Chinook salmon availability, pollution, and environmental disturbances contribute to their endangered status. Researchers continue to study these events to better understand and support conservation efforts for this genetically distinct and emotionally complex group of orcas.