A grieving mother orca has caught the attention of most of the world after struggling to keep her dead calf’s body afloat for over a week. The calf died last Tuesday shortly after being born.

The 20-year-old whale has been carrying her dead calf through the waters just off the coast of British Columbia, and researchers are beginning to fear for her well-being.

The whale has been balancing the dead calf on her forehead or pushing it to the surface of the water say the experts at the Whale Museum on San Juan Island who have been monitoring her.

The whale, known as J35, has remained close to her pod, but little by little she is falling further and further behind them. Jenny Atkinson, the executive director of the museum, says it is obvious that the orca and her pod are going through a deep grieving process.

The Puget Sound calf is the first calf to be born in three years to the dwindling population of endangered southern resident killer whales. There are only 75 of the mammals left.

Check out the heartbreaking video below of the grieving mother and be sure to share it with your family and friends.