Grieving orca finally lets go of dead calf
Researchers say an endangered killer whale that drew international attention as she carried her dead calf on her head for more than two weeks is finally back to feeding and frolicking with her pod.
The Center for Whale Research in Washington state says it watched the orca, known as J35, chase a school of salmon in Haro Strait west of San Juan Island on Saturday afternoon.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Heartbreaking. Grieving Mother Orca Finally Releases Her Dead Calf After Carrying Its Body For More Than Two Weeks https://t.co/rgkADdkFFf
There are only 75 Souther Resident Orcas left.@JustinTrudeau Protect Orcas, #StopPipelines: https://t.co/VLq9egzeKj #cdnpoli #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/3QC4FSXzhT— Mike Hudema (@MikeHudema) August 12, 2018
The whales have been struggling because of a lack of salmon, and J35′s calf died soon after birth on July 24. The mother carried the baby on her head for at least 17 days, in an image of grief that struck an emotional chord worldwide.
She finally abandoned the carcass as it decomposed.
Center for Whale Research founder Ken Balcomb says he is immensely relieved to see J35 returning to typical behavior.
An update:
"Although scientists often scoff at the way people love to anthropomorphize animals, in this case researchers said that the whale's actions were what they looked like: mourning." https://t.co/9TXMNYxlVR— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) August 13, 2018
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