Stingray Charlotte that became pregnant without a male companion in her North Carolina aquarium dies
A stingray that became pregnant this winter at a North Carolina aquarium, despite not having shared a tank with a male of her species in years, has died.
The Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville said the stingray, named Charlotte, died after contracting a rare reproductive disease. It did not elaborate.
“We are sad to report that our ray Charlotte passed away today after continued medical care from her team and specialist,” the aquarium wrote, while also thanking fans for their “love and support.”
The aquarium, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, announced in February that Charlotte had become pregnant, despite not having shared a tank with a male stingray in at least eight years.
A stingray named Charlotte, who became pregnant at a North Carolina aquarium despite not sharing a tank with a male for years, has died
The Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville announced that Charlotte died from a rare reproductive disease
Despite continued treatment, Charlotte’s condition deteriorated and by early June she was no longer pregnant.
The pregnancy made headlines around the world and sparked debate among TV host Jimmy Kimmel and Saturday Night Live.
In late May, the aquarium announced that Charlotte was suffering from a rare reproductive disease and that it wanted to learn more about the illness.
“There have been studies done on southern rays, but we have not found any that have been done on round rays,” it says.
In early June, the aquarium announced that Charlotte was no longer pregnant.
Due to this development, the facility was temporarily closed to the public on June 1.
In Sunday’s announcement, the aquarium said it will remain closed for the time being and that staff will continue to feed and care for the other animals.
At one point the aquarium said Charlotte was pregnant with up to four pups, but the ultrasound (pictured) only seemed to show one. Ultimately, none were born
Charlotte attracts visitors from far and wide and captures the attention of nature lovers online
Charlotte, seen in February when she was supposedly ‘heavily’ pregnant, although no puppies were ever born
Kinsley Boyette, the aquarium’s assistant director, poses next to Charlotte
Virgin births occur when a stingray has been isolated for an extended period of time and clones itself to produce an embryo
It was thought that pregnancy was the result of a form of asexual reproduction called parthenogenesis, in which offspring develop from unfertilized eggs. There is therefore no genetic input from the male.
This rare phenomenon can occur in some insects, fish, amphibians, birds and reptiles, but not in mammals.
Documented examples include the California condor, Komodo dragon, and yellow-bellied water snake.
Charlotte came into the media spotlight in February when Team ECCO announced she was pregnant.
One of the commenters summed up the atmosphere as follows: ‘We got catfished by a stingray.’
However, some accused the aquarium of covering up the truth about her: that she was never actually pregnant and that it was all a publicity stunt.
The unusually long duration of her pregnancy worried some observers, who pointed out that something was wrong.
But as is the case with intrigue and conspiracy theories on the internet, many commenters were probably excited and thought they were on to something.