Tahlequah, the killer whale who touched hearts worldwide in 2018 when she mourned her dead calf for an entire 17 days, is grieving once more. Recently spotted off the coast of Washington State, the Southern Resident killer whale was observed pushing her deceased newborn calf. The Center for Whale Research confirmed that this tragic event marks another profound loss in Tahlequah's life, where she has now lost two of her four documented calves, both females.

This loss is particularly devastating, given the history of danger facing her species, which is currently listed as endangered by both the US and Canada. The Southern Resident killer whales heavily depend on the declining Chinook salmon population for food, with research suggesting that nutritional challenges are linked to their reproductive failures.

As Tahlequah continues to navigate through her sorrow, she exemplifies the immense challenges these majestic creatures face in the wild, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts in protecting their habitat and food sources.