Grieving Dolphin

[Black Orchid]

A grieving dolphin carrying her dead baby has been spotted in waters off New Zealand’s North Island.

The bottlenose dolphin was seen at the Bay of Islands on the east coast on Tuesday and was pictured carrying her dead calf alongside another dolphin.

The Department of Conservation warned residents to give the dolphin “space and time” to grieve the death of her young, suspecting it to be stillborn.

It added the mother was currently “displaying a strong maternal bond”.

The department’s Dr Catherine Peters said people should avoid dolphins in the area during this period.

“This female needs everyone on the water to give her the extra space and respect she needs whilst she copes with her loss,” she said.

The mother has dropped the calf “frequently” while swimming with a group which has separated from her at times, leaving the mammal vulnerable.

Pictures of the grieving mother were shared by the department on Twitter with many left heartbroken.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/grieving-dolp ... 12690.html



So sad

[Neferti]

Poor thing!

[Black Orchid]

Another one

A grieving mother killer whale, pushing her dead calf around the water for a week, has alarmed scientists holding grave fears that the orca is starving herself.

The mother whale named Tahlequah, or J35, gave birth to a baby southern resident killer whale on July 24, near Victoria, British Columbia in Canada.

However, by the time a team from the Center for Whale Research arrived to take pictures of the newborn, it sadly was no longer alive.

The mother was seen repeatedly diving to retrieve its carcass as it was sinking and trying to support it on her forehead while she transported it through rough seas toward San Juan Island and continues to do so a week later.

According to the Center for Whale Research dolphins and killer whales have been known to transport their dead offspring for up to a week.

Researchers hold grave fears for Tahlequah’s health, with fears that she is not eating enough food to stay healthy.

“I am so terrified for her well-being,” Deborah Giles, research scientist for University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology and research director for non-profit Wild Orca, told the Seattle Times on Monday.

“She is a 20-year-old breeding-age female and we need her,” she said.

Researchers fear that since the mother was in labour last week, she has not eating properly and continues to not eat while she balances her deceased calf on her head.

Apparently she mourned and carried the baby for 17 days

[sprintcyclist]

Poor thing!

yes.