Grieving orca mother carries dead calf for days as whales fight for survival
Whale is one of just 75 in an endangered group off the coast of Washington state and Canada
Levi Pulkkinen in Seattle
Fri 27 Jul 2018 18.36 EDT
A grieving mother orca near Vancouver Island has been carrying her dead calf for four days, after refusing to leave her baby behind when the rest of her pod left.
The mother whale, named J35 by researchers, gave birth Tuesday in what was initially a hopeful moment. Mother and female calf were seen swimming together that morning near Victoria, British Columbia, according to the Washington state-based Center for Whale Research.
Within hours, though, the calf had died and J35’s pod had moved out of the area.
“The baby’s carcass was sinking and being repeatedly retrieved by the mother, who was supporting it on her forehead and pushing it in choppy seas,” said the Center for Whale Research in a statement. “The mother continued supporting and pushing the dead baby whale throughout the day until at least sunset.”
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/27/orca-mother-carries-dead-baby-washington-canada
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