SEATTLE (AP) — The Southern Resident killer whales have welcomed a new member to their family. Mother orca Tahlequah has given birth to a calf.
Who can forget two years ago when Tahlequah carried her dead calf for 17 days across 1,000 miles, her grief shared by people all around the world.
Ken Balcomb, the founder for the Center for Whale Research, says the calf likely arrived Friday and appears “robust.” The gender has not been announced.
The birth is significant for these struggling orcas who have faced boat noise, a lack of food supply, habitat loss and environmental pollutants.