A mother killer whale who famously pushed the body of her dead newborn for 17 days in 2018 has lost another calf, and researchers say she is again carrying the body.

Alive for 香蕉视频直播渏ust a handful of days,香蕉视频直播� the female calf known as J61 was confirmed to be dead on New Year香蕉视频直播檚 Eve by researchers studying the endangered southern resident killer whale population.

The mother known as Tahlequah, or J35, has now lost two of her four documented calves.

Days before its death, it was reported the calf was believed to be premature. Concern was also raised about Tahlequah香蕉视频直播檚 ability to successfully nurse a calf after it was noted she "appeared in subnormal body condition" in October.

While her last calf was born four years prior to J61, Brad Hanson, a research scientist for NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Centre, noted there is normally a five-year period between births.

香蕉视频直播淪he may not have had time to physically recover from the prior calf,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Similar to the behaviour seen in 2018, Tahlequah was observed on New Year香蕉视频直播檚 Day with the dead calf 香蕉视频直播渄raped across her snout香蕉视频直播� or placed on top of the 香蕉视频直播済rieving香蕉视频直播� mother香蕉视频直播檚 head.

The Centre for Whale Research says the death of any calf among the endangered southern resident killer whale population is 香蕉视频直播渁 tremendous loss,香蕉视频直播� but the latest is 香蕉视频直播減articularly devastating香蕉视频直播� because she was a female and because of J35香蕉视频直播檚 history.

香蕉视频直播淭his is an unfortunate way to start the new year,香蕉视频直播� said Hanson.

With her attention focused on keeping her dead calf afloat, Hanson says the energy expenditure for Tahlequah is going to be 香蕉视频直播渇airly significant,香蕉视频直播� raising concern for her welfare.

香蕉视频直播淥ne of the things that she's probably not having time to do is forage,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淎nd this is a time of year when fish availability is typically less than what it is other times of the year,香蕉视频直播� he added.

While it was never observed directly in 2018, as there were 香蕉视频直播渘o obvious signs of her deteriorating physically,香蕉视频直播� researchers assumed other members of J pod were supporting Tahlequah through her 17-day grief procession by sharing salmon with her.

香蕉视频直播淲hich is something that southern residents are known to do,香蕉视频直播� said Michael Weiss, research director at the Centre for Whale Research.

This time around, according to Hanson, other members of J pod have been seen travelling with Tahlequah, taking an interest in her deceased calf, including her four-year-old offspring.

香蕉视频直播淚t's hard to say whether or not they were actually helping to carry, but they were certainly engaged with her and curious about what was going on,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Tahlequah香蕉视频直播檚 sister, known as J53 who is now of reproductive age, was also seen 香蕉视频直播渃onsistently香蕉视频直播� travelling with the mother and deceased calf.

While they cannot be certain how she is feeling, experts believe Tahlequah is experiencing emotions connected to the loss of her calf.

香蕉视频直播淚 think it's fair to say that she is grieving or mourning,香蕉视频直播� said Joe Gaydos, science director for SeaDoc Society, who noted animals and humans can share similar hormones and neurotransmitters.

香蕉视频直播淲e do see this behaviour in other animals, generally only long-lived socially cohesive animals, such as primates and dolphins,香蕉视频直播� he added.

香蕉视频直播淔rom a scientific perspective, if they have the same hard-wiring, they're gonna have the same emotions.香蕉视频直播�

In contrast to the news of J61香蕉视频直播檚 death, it was announced on the same day a new calf was seen travelling with the group known as J pod.

The sex and mother of the newborn calf have not yet been identified, but Hanson said they are 香蕉视频直播渃autiously optimistic香蕉视频直播�, noting it appears to be in a 香蕉视频直播渧ery robust香蕉视频直播� condition.

Orcas along the West Coast are categorized into three families known as the J, K and L pods, each of which has its own dialect and calls that differ from the others.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Parks Canada, in consultation with Transport Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, completed an assessment of the southern resident population last year, finding the population had dwindled to 73, with only 23 breeding females.

The Centre for Whale Research also said the population had dipped to 73 in its July 1, 2024 census following the death of two adult male orcas.

With files from The Canadian Press