A stingray that became pregnant at a North Carolina aquarium this winter despite not having shared a tank with a male of its species for many years has died.
The Hendersonville Aquarium and Shark Laboratory said the ray, named Charlotte, died after contracting a rare reproductive disease, but gave no further details.
“We are saddened to announce that after continuing treatment with her healthcare team and specialist, our stingray Charlotte passed away today,” the aquarium wrote, while 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 ray named Charlotte, who became pregnant at a North Carolina aquarium despite not sharing a tank with a male for years, has died.
The Hendersonville Aquarium and Shark Lab 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 was the subject of late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel and Saturday Night Live.
The aquarium said in late May that Charlotte was suffering from a rare reproductive disease and that it was trying to find out more about the illness.
“There have been studies done on southern rays, but we have not yet found any on round rays,” he wrote.
The aquarium announced in early June that Charlotte was no longer pregnant.
This development caused the facility to temporarily close to the public on June 1.
In its post on Sunday, the aquarium said it would remain closed for the time being and that staff would continue to feed and care for the remaining animals.
At one point, the aquarium said Charlotte was pregnant with up to four pups, but the ultrasound (pictured) appeared to show only one. In the end, none were born.
Charlotte attracts visitors from all over and captures the attention of wildlife lovers online.
Charlotte, seen in February when she was supposedly very pregnant, although no puppies were ever born
Kinsley Boyette, the assistant director of the aquarium, is seen posing next to Charlotte
Virgin births occur when a ray has been isolated for an extended period and clones itself to produce an embryo.
Pregnancy was thought to be the result of a type of asexual reproduction called parthenogenesis, in which offspring develop from unfertilized eggs, meaning there is no genetic contribution from the male.
The phenomenon, generally rare, can occur in some insects, fish, amphibians, birds and reptiles, but not in mammals.
Documented examples include California condors, Komodo dragons, and yellow-bellied water snakes.
Charlotte became the centre of a media frenzy in February when the ECCO team announced she was pregnant.
Capturing the mood, one commenter wrote: “We’ve been fooled by a ray.”
However, some accused the aquarium of hiding the truth about her: that she was never actually pregnant and that it was all a publicity stunt.
The extraordinary length of her pregnancy worried some observers, who said something was wrong.
But, as with most internet intrigue and conspiracy, many commentators were probably carried away by the thrill of feeling they were right.