Tahlequah, the Southern Resident orca who carried her dead calf for 17 days in 2018, is mourning the loss of another newborn, raising concerns about her health.

The calf was born Dec. 24. Observing researchers noted unusual unspecified behaviors by mother and calf that led them to worry for the young whale's health.

The same southern resident orca that famously carried her dead calf for over two weeks in 2018 has lost another one. Marine biologists fear inbreeding is weakening the endangered pod of some 30 orcas struggling to find enough Chinook salmon.

In 2018, researchers observed J35 pushing her dead calf along for 17 days, propping it up for more than 1,000 miles.

Tahlequah, an orca well-known for having carried her dead calf for over two weeks back in 2018, has been struck by a heartbreaking event once again. After it was recently announced that the orca had given birth,