After a 17 day saga of grief Tahlequah leaves her dead calf and swims on

This is an unspeakably sad story that has been unfolding for weeks. The local Orca population is at risk since the young whales like Tahlequah are underweight and emaciated.  Humans are killing off their food source, mainly by destroying the spawning habitat for Wild Salmon with development. 

After 17 Days And 1,000 Miles, A Mother Orca's 'Tour Of Grief' Is Over

By JENNY GATHRIGHT

After carrying her deceased baby for at least 17 days and 1,000 miles, an orca mother has shown signs of returning to normal.

She was seen Saturday with fellow members of her pod, chasing a school of salmon. She is no longer carrying her baby, and she looks healthy. "Her tour of grief is now over and her behavior is remarkably frisky," according to a statement on the Center for Whale Research's website.

Researchers commonly refer to the mother orca as J-35. She's also known as Tahlequah, a name she was given as part of the adopt a whale program at The Whale Museum on Washington's San Juan Island.