Motherly love knows no ends, even in the animal kingdom! All you have to do is get between a mother bear and her cubs to see that wonderful thing in action. While motherly love isn’t limited to humans or bears, one story of a sea creature shows us just how incredible the animals on this planet really are.
This story may just be the best example of that beautiful and wonderful thing.
Orca, sometimes known as killer whales, are the wolves of the ocean. They are the apex predators and are incredibly smart. They act as a pack and have strong family connections. The story starts with an orca named Tahlequah.
Tahlequah is an orca that went through something incredibly traumatic.
Captured on video in 2018, Tahlequah gave birth to a wonderful little orca baby. She and her pod live in Puget Sound, near Seattle, in the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, immediately after the orca baby was born, it died. To make matters worse, orcas were classified as endangered and this was the first baby to be born in the pod in over three years.
This mama was still devoted to her baby, though.
Like any good mom, Tahlequah refused to give up on her baby, dead or not. She was in shock and decide that she was going to keep her dead baby with her for 17 days. Over the course of the next few weeks, she carried her dead baby with her wherever she went. After swimming over 1000 miles with her infant, she finally realized the truth.
Even though this happened in 2018, it was big news.
The heartbreaking story spread to most major news sources and the grieving mother was joined by disheartened people across the world. Even today, people remember the story of the orca mother who carried her baby for 17 days and 10000 miles. But that’s not where the story ends…
Tahlequah is pregnant again!
Scientists have been keeping tabs on the pod that she lives in and recently realized that she is pregnant again! Analyzing images taken a month apart, you can see that this is one growing mama. The news hit the world and people couldn’t be more excited for the soon-to-be mom.
There is still a long journey ahead.
With orca still being endangered, it is important that this pregnancy comes to fruition. Orcas primarily eat Chinook salmon, which consequently are endangered as well. Through reduced food sources, climate change, and pollution, it is paramount that this orca baby lives.
People across the world are watching and cheering this mama on.
Today I painted this mural with my sister @moniqueaura at Beverly and D’Arcy downtown Toronto near @agotoronto and @OCAD.
A Tribute to Talequah and her baby calf.Please read the following thread ❤️ pic.twitter.com/c1yfYjOS3h
— Chief Lady Bird 🦅 ᐅᑮᒪᑫᐧᐱᓀᐢ (@chiefladybird) August 19, 2018
All across the world, people are doing their best to encourage the mama whale in spirit. Some artists have created incredible pieces of work while scientists are doing their best to keep tabs on the mom to make sure everything is ok.
Good news! Tahlequah (J35) the southern resident orca who carried her dead calf for 17 days and more than 1,000 miles almost two years ago, is pregnant again. Her baby is still a long way away but fingers crossed.
Photo: Center for Whale Research pic.twitter.com/IK5OcJJ4aI
— Marine Connection (@MC_org) July 28, 2020
Humans have a part to play in the healing of the earth’s wildlife.
Whether or not we realize it, humans can help or harm the animals on earth. More than just orcas, our actions circle the globe with consequences, good or bad. We can all do our part to care for the richness and beauty found in this world.
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