A Southern Resident orca who carried the corpse of her calf for at least 17 days in mourning has released it.
Ken Balcomb, executive director of the Center for Whale Research, spotted orca J35 with her pod off San Juan Island on Saturday, and said the ordeal of carrying her dead calf is over.
“J35 frolicked past my window today with other J pod whales, and she looks vigorous and healthy,” Balcomb wrote in an email.
PHOTOS: J35 back with pod
The 20-year-old orca, who Balcomb says carried her calf more than 1,000 miles, captured national attention. Whale experts say they have seen orcas mourn their offspring before, but J35 clung to her calf for an unusually long period of time.
