If THIS Mother Orca’s Grieving Ritual Breaks Your Heart, Wait Until You Learn Corky the Orca’s Tragic Story
Nearly seven years ago, the world watched in sorrow as a Southern Resident orca mother—Tahlequah, or “J35”—carried her dead calf through the ocean for 17 days, apparently overcome with anguish. Now, she seems to be in mourning again over the loss of another newborn.
Seemingly resistant to let go, Tahlequah drapes the body of her dead baby over her head and dives down to recover them when they start to sink. Using much of her energy to keep their body afloat, she’s apparently putting off her own needs, such as foraging for food—which experts have said is an expression of profound grief.
In a remarkable display of devotion and solidarity, Tahlequah’s sister and other fellow tight-knit pod members stay close by her side as she clings to her lost calf—just like they did in 2018, when they helped her carry her calf’s body for more than two weeks. Experts observing this ritual have expressed the belief that these animals were holding “their own version of a wake or funeral.”
What Humans Can Learn From Tahlequah’s Story
A mother orca carrying her dead baby for miles through the ocean shows the depth of their bonds—making it all the more harrowing that orcas trapped in marine park tanks are denied the chance to form such meaningful relationships or even experience the love of a family. In 2018, when the loss of Tahlequah’s calf garnered international attention, the plight of Southern Resident orcas—who are on the brink of extinction, according to scientists—came to the forefront.
PETA continued to call for the release of Lolita—a Southern Resident orca who spent more than 50 years trapped at a marine park—from the Miami Seaquarium, where she languished in the world’s smallest orca tank. In 2023, Lolita died at the facility, never getting the chance to return to the ocean in a seaside sanctuary and possibly reunite with her family.
Tell SeaWorld to Empty the Tanks
Tahlequah’s story is one of the many displays of orcas’ complex lives. Orca populations all over the world have unique cultures marked by distinct dialects, foraging techniques, social structures, and customs. At marine parks like SeaWorld, these intelligent, emotional animals spend their days swimming in endless circles.
One of these suffering orcas is known as Corky—the last Northern Resident in captivity. In 1969, she was violently torn from her family off the coast of British Columbia and sold into the entertainment industry. We can only imagine the grief this would likely have caused her mother, who may have spent days calling out and searching for her.
Corky has spent 55 years imprisoned at marine parks. While her free pod members band together to chase salmon, explore the vast ocean, and, in the summer, visit the beaches near Vancouver Island to rub their bodies over pebbles on the shoreline—a tradition unique to Northern Residents—Corky’s life consists of forced performances and concrete tanks.
For years, she was used to breed more orcas into miserable confinement—but none of her calves survived past 47 days. Unlike Tahlequah, when Corky’s calves died, she didn’t have the support of her family members by her side. Her last pregnancy ended in a miscarriage when her dead baby was found at the bottom of a tank at SeaWorld.
PETA and our supporters continue to urge SeaWorld to develop a firm and rapid plan to transfer Corky to a seaside sanctuary. In her home waters off British Columbia, a team of experts is already preparing one for her. If released into a sanctuary in these waters, Corky could finally feel the ocean currents, hear the songs and calls of other free orcas, and possibly communicate with her siblings. But for all this to happen, SeaWorld needs to act now.
Take action for Corky and other animals suffering at SeaWorld:
