Tour of Grief
An illustrative booklet of the story of Tahlequah (J35), a Southern Resident Killer Whale, to raise awareness regarding the endangerment of this species.
ROLE
Researcher
Illustrator
TIMELINE
2023 Jun;
10 Weeks
BACKGROUND
A tragic story of a mother and her child.
In the summer of 2018,a mother orca known as J35, Tahlequah, pushed the corpse of her dead calf in a funeral-like procession through 1,600 kilometers of Pacific Ocean for 17 days in what scientists and journalists called 'a tour of grief.
A week after the loss of the calf, family members began taking turns carrying the dead calf to allow Tahlequah to rest. Those who encountered the orca with her dead calf say they saw a grieving mother with a message.
Tahlequah pushing her deceased newborn in the Pacific Ocean. Photograph by Robin Baird, Cascadia Research
INTRODUCTION
Research — How I came across this story
Initially, the project started with my research on California's cancellation of the 2023 salmon season due to a lack of fish. Salmon are a keystone species in the ecosystem, which means their existence is interconnected with their environment and other species.
From this research, I learned the lack of salmon greatly impacted the survival of Southern Resident Killer Whales, with their diet being 80% chinook salmon. Seven whales have died in the last two years, most likely because of this.
As of 2023…
There are only 73 Southern Resident Killer Whales left in the world.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Orcas, also known as Killer Whales, are the Apex Predators of the Ocean.
Apex predators such as orcas play a vital role in marine ecosystems by regulating prey populations, preventing overabundance, and maintaining balance. The absence of apex predators can have far-reaching consequences, impacting the overall health and stability of these ecosystems.
Currently, the biggest threat to the Southern Resident Killer Whales is the lack of prey — specifically Californian Chinook Salmon.
PROCESS
Generating empathy through the power of Illustration
As the subject is extremely emotional and delicate, I created an accordion booklet so the viewer can physically hold the story in their hands and read it on their own. This also allows for the booklet to be sent to people or organizations with the power to create change.
The large poster in the back shows all 73 names, ages, and sex of the remaining Southern Resident Killer Whales to let the viewer see they are not just a number but actual living mammals with names and families.
Every part of the booklet, including visuals, typography, texture, size, and paper thickness, is made with the intention to evoke emotions from the viewer.
Procreate time-lapse of illustration
CONCLUSION
An intricate hand-made accordion booklet
I want to thank Rebecca Mendez — the UCLA Design Media Arts department chair — who supported and inspired me through this process. I remember the amount of emotion she felt when I first proposed this project to her, and that was the moment I knew how much potential this piece had if executed right. Creating this piece was extremely empowering because I felt the power of design to bring change into this world, even if it impacts just one person.
UPDATE ON TAHLEQUAH
Tahlequah has given birth to a new baby orca — its a boy!
The baby whale is believed to have been born on September 4 to mother orca Tahlequah. This calf is feisty and has been seen rolling, spy-hopping, and swimming alongside his mother as she forages for food, according to the Center for Whale Research.