Grieving orca still carrying her dead calf more than 2 weeks later

[jpak]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/grieving-orca-mother-still-carrying-dead-calf-more-than-two-weeks-later/

An endangered, grieving orca is still carrying her dead calf more than two weeks after the newborn died, CBS affiliate KIRO-TV reports. Researchers spotted the 20-year-old whale and the calf off of Washington's Olympic Peninsula on Wednesday, the station says.

The calf died July 24 and images of the mother, also known as Tahlequah or J35, have struck the hearts of people worldwide. She has been carrying the calf with her for 16 straight days.

"She literally is pushing her baby to connect with it and, hope against hope -- hoping that it will take a breath, which it will never do," biologist and wildlife conservationist Jeff Corwin told CBSN. "I can imagine this [mourning period] could take a very, very long time."

Just like humans, Corwin said, grief has to "take its course." He said it would be "stressful" for experts to intervene in the whale's process, adding that J35 "probably is medically or physically healthy to survive."

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[eleny]

1. This week's Mutts daily cartoon strip is about sea life

Well, it's about a fish and orcas aren't fish. But this poignant story you posted reminded me of this week's strip. You can find it here.
https://mutts.com/shop/strips/

[renate]

4. I loooove Mutts!!!

It's kind of like Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, but for animals (and animal lovers). It's so sweet!

[eleny]

5. You're right! I never thought about it but it does have the same feel-good factor

I get the daily comic strip in email every morning. Helps to start the day off in the right direction. I miss the colorful "Sunday Funnies"!

[malaise]

2. Too sad

[sheshe2]

3. ...

[Raine]

6. So sad...

really heartbreaking love isn't exclusive to humans, other species love too as deeply if not more so.

[poetshepherd]

7. This is happening, literally, outside my window

My house looks out on the stretch of water where this orca mom is grieving. So sad.

[Ilsa]

9. Do you have an extra bedroom?

My vacation to the Olympic peninsula was the best one I ever took. 1995.

[NurseJackie]

8. 😥

😥