A Southern Resident killer whale has been spotted clinging to her dead baby in the Salish Sea off northern Washington, a conservation group said.
J-36, also known as Alki, was seen Sept. 12 in the Rosario Strait, the Center for Whale Research said in a Facebook post.
Researchers saw her carrying her newborn calf's body -- with its umbilical cord still attached -- and estimated the baby had been born in the last three days.
"Based on the size of the calf, we estimate that the calf was either full term or near full term. It is unclear if this was a stillbirth or if the calf died shortly after birth," the whale group said in the post.
Researchers from different agencies responded to the area to document the whales. The group said it will release more information later.
This isn't the first time a mom orca in J pod has been seen swimming with her dead calf.
Tahlequah, known as J-35, carried her dead baby at the end of 2024, McClatchy News reported.
She did the same thing in 2018, keeping her dead calf in tow for 17 days. It was known as her "tour of grief." What to know about the orcas
Southern Resident killer whales were listed as an endangered species in 2005 and are listed as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
These whales are made up of three groups: J, K and L pods. They spend summer and fall months in the Puget Sound and in the waters off southern Vancouver Island, NOAA said.
J pod frequents the western shore of the San Juan Islands.
"While most other killer whale populations are doing well, the Southern Residents are among the world's most endangered marine mammals," the federal agency said.
Lack of prey (mainly Chinook salmon), chemical pollution and noise disturbances from vessels have all contributed to a decline in their population, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Additionally, for this whale population, 69% of births fail, according to a study published by researchers from the University of Washington.