Orcas adopting a baby pilot whale

In what is being hailed as a remarkable act of compassion, an orca in the Pacific Northwest has been spotted with a newborn baby pilot whale, believed to be the first known case of an orca adopting another species of whale. The orca, known as J35, was first spotted in the Salish Sea off the coast of British Columbia and Washington state in 2018, carrying her dead calf for 17 days in a heartbreaking display of grief. Now, more than two years later, J35 has returned with a newborn calf.

The calf appears to be a pilot whale, a species commonly found in the Pacific Ocean. Its black and white coloring is distinct from the orca's black and white patterns, and it has a rounded dorsal fin, unlike the tall dorsal fin of an orca. The calf appears to be in good health and has been observed swimming alongside J35. Experts say that it’s too early to tell whether J35 is the calf’s adoptive mother or if the calf is just a companion. But regardless of the relationship, the fact that J35 is caring for this other species is remarkable. It's not known what drove J35 to adopt a baby pilot whale, but some experts speculate that it could be a sign of desperation.

Orcas have been hit hard by pollution, overfishing, and other human activities, and their population has been in decline for years. This could explain why J35 is taking a risk and caring for a calf of another species, in hopes of giving it a better chance of survival. Whatever the reason, J35’s story has captured the attention of researchers and the public alike. The event is a reminder of the incredible capacity of the animal kingdom for compassion and empathy, and the need to protect our oceans and its inhabitants.