Endangered Southern Resident orca J36 seen carrying dead newborn calf in Washington waters

An endangered Southern Resident killer whale identified as J36 was seen carrying a dead newborn calf in the Rosario Strait on Friday, researchers said, in a striking repeat of prior observations of grieving and caregiving behavior in the population.

Staff from the Center for Whale Research, the SeaDoc Society and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said they received reports and were able to confirm that the calf, a female with an umbilical cord still attached, was deceased. Based on prior observations of J36, researchers estimated the calf would have been no more than three days old when it was seen.

Researchers reported that J36 was observed pushing and carrying the newborn in apparent efforts to revive it, but they confirmed the calf was dead. It was not immediately clear whether the calf had been born alive. Calf mortality is typically high among orcas, and scientists have noted particular challenges facing the Southern Resident population in recent decades.

The Southern Resident killer whales, which frequent marine waters between Washington state and Canada, numbered 73 animals as of the most recent counts. Scientists attribute declines and low reproductive success in part to the scarcity of their preferred prey, Chinook salmon, as well as to pollution and vessel noise that can interfere with hunting and communication.

The sighting of J36 carrying a dead newborn echoes previous, widely publicized events. In 2018, another Southern Resident female known as Tahlequah, or J35, carried the body of her dead calf for more than 1,000 miles over 17 days, drawing global attention to the plight of the population. Earlier this year, Tahlequah was again observed carrying a deceased newborn.

Marine researchers and conservation groups continue to monitor the Southern Resident whales closely, documenting births, deaths and social behavior as part of efforts to understand and address the factors limiting recovery. The organizations that confirmed Friday's observation said they were continuing to assess the situation and share information with regional partners and authorities.

The death of a newborn further underscores longstanding conservation concerns for the Southern Resident killer whales, which have been listed as endangered for decades and remain the focus of regional recovery plans aimed at restoring salmon runs, reducing pollution and minimizing harmful noise and disturbance in the Salish Sea.