In December, news broke that Tahlequah, the orca who famously carried her dead calf for 17 days, had given birth. Sadly, it appears that the new calf has died.

The calf adds to the stressors facing the southern resident orcas, especially Tahlequah, a mother already caring for other young.

The calf, J61, was pictured on December 20 A bereaved female killer whale who carried her dead calf for more than two weeks in 2018 has again lost a newborn and is bearing its body, US marine researchers said.