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 91裸聊视频渏ust a handful of days,91裸聊视频� the female calf known as J61 was confirmed to be dead on New Year91裸聊视频檚 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 Tahlequah91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淪he may not have had time to physically recover from the prior calf,91裸聊视频� he said.

Similar to the behaviour seen in 2018, Tahlequah was observed on New Year91裸聊视频檚 Day with the dead calf 91裸聊视频渄raped across her snout91裸聊视频� or placed on top of the 91裸聊视频済rieving91裸聊视频� mother91裸聊视频檚 head.

The Centre for Whale Research says the death of any calf among the endangered southern resident killer whale population is 91裸聊视频渁 tremendous loss,91裸聊视频� but the latest is 91裸聊视频減articularly devastating91裸聊视频� because she was a female and because of J3591裸聊视频檚 history.

91裸聊视频淭his is an unfortunate way to start the new year,91裸聊视频� said Hanson.

With her attention focused on keeping her dead calf afloat, Hanson says the energy expenditure for Tahlequah is going to be 91裸聊视频渇airly significant,91裸聊视频� raising concern for her welfare.

91裸聊视频淥ne of the things that she's probably not having time to do is forage,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淎nd this is a time of year when fish availability is typically less than what it is other times of the year,91裸聊视频� he added.

While it was never observed directly in 2018, as there were 91裸聊视频渘o obvious signs of her deteriorating physically,91裸聊视频� researchers assumed other members of J pod were supporting Tahlequah through her 17-day grief procession by sharing salmon with her.

91裸聊视频淲hich is something that southern residents are known to do,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚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,91裸聊视频� he said.

Tahlequah91裸聊视频檚 sister, known as J53 who is now of reproductive age, was also seen 91裸聊视频渃onsistently91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚 think it's fair to say that she is grieving or mourning,91裸聊视频� said Joe Gaydos, science director for SeaDoc Society, who noted animals and humans can share similar hormones and neurotransmitters.

91裸聊视频淲e do see this behaviour in other animals, generally only long-lived socially cohesive animals, such as primates and dolphins,91裸聊视频� he added.

91裸聊视频淔rom a scientific perspective, if they have the same hard-wiring, they're gonna have the same emotions.91裸聊视频�

In contrast to the news of J6191裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渃autiously optimistic91裸聊视频�, noting it appears to be in a 91裸聊视频渧ery robust91裸聊视频� 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