A mother mourns her loss.
In early August 2018 a female Orca was observed carrying her dead calf for more than 1,000 miles near Vancouver. Last seen definitively carrying the calf after 17 days since it had passed, 'Tahlequah' as researchers had named the mother, was expressing what was, according to Lori Marino, president of the Whale Sanctuary Project, 'deep feelings'.
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Scientists say that grieving is common place among mammals such as whales, dolphins, elephants and deer. Evidence shows the orca brain is large, complex and highly developed in the areas of emotions.
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"Everything we know about them says this is grieving" confirmed Marino.
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Ken Balcomb, founder of the Centre for Whale Research, explained that carrying the calf for 1,000 miles was unprecedented.
"It is a grief, a genuine mourning" he said.
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