Tahlequah (orca)

J35 Tahlequah
SpeciesOrca (Orcinus orca)
BreedSouthern Resident
SexFemale
Bornc. 1998 (age 2627)
Offspring2 living, 2 dead
Named afterTahlequah, Washington

Tahlequah (born c. 1998), also known as J35, is an orca of the southern resident community in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. She has given birth to four known offspring, a male (J47, Notch) in 2010, a female (Tali) in 2018, another male (J57, Phoenix) in 2020, and another female (J61) in 2024. Her second calf, Tali, died shortly after birth, and J35 carried her body for 17 days in an apparent show of grief that attracted international attention. Her fourth calf died within days of her birth and was also carried by Tahlequah.