Una femmina di orca marina che per 17 giorni, al largo delle coste occidentali degli Stati Uniti, aveva continuato a spingere con il muso il corpo del suo piccolo, morto subito dopo la nascita, si è finalmente rassegnato a lasciarlo affondare nelle acque del Pacifico e tornare a caccia con le sue simili.
Le immagini sono state diffuse dal centro di ricerche di Friday Harbor, secondo il quale l'animale ha portato con sè il cucciolo per 1'600 chilometri prima di arrendersi. Il profondo attaccamento alla prole in questa specie non è inusuale, secondo gli esperti, che avevano già osservato casi simili.
Le orche che vivono nei pressi della costa dello Stato di Washington e di quella canadese della British Columbia sono minacciate per la scarsità di cibo, costituito in prevalenza dagli altrettanto minacciati salmoni chinook.
pon/ATS
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