Phew. Virgin stingray Charlotte’s babies are doing well and she is still on track to give birth any day now.
That’s according to the latest update from the North Carolina Aquarium team that cares for her.
The ECCO team’s Aquarium & Shark Lab posted on Facebook and Instagram that the stingray and her babies are in good health after receiving the results of the latest ultrasound.
The aquarium’s announcement over the weekend came in response to continued public pressure for more information about the pregnant stingray’s condition; some experts even speculated that her unborn calves may have died.
The skepticism that arises in Aquarius shares the first news of pregnancy in February, and two months have already passed without changes.
Charlotte the stingray is expected to give birth soon, but due to the unusual nature of her pregnancy, experts can’t say when that will be.
But advertisement has done little to calm suspicions among some observers.
In the absence of details, rumors have circulated.
Charlotte became the center of a media frenzy in February when the ECCO team announced that she was pregnant – despite not living near male rays.
Charlotte the stingray and her unborn babies are in good health, according to the latest update from the ECCO team’s Aquarium & Shark Lab in Hendersonville, North Carolina, where she has lived since 2016.
But while the new announcement shared on Facebook assured the public that Charlotte is fine, it contains no new details about her condition or which experts have been consulted.
The ECCO team has not responded to multiple requests for comment from DailyMail.com.
In the months since Charlotte’s immaculate conception was announced, some observers have worried that the aquarium is not communicating clearly with the public, leading some to suspect something is wrong.
Updates from the ECCO team have been sporadic and don’t always contain much information specific to Charlotte.
Some experts have expressed frustration that Team ECCO has rejected the opinions of other aquarium professionals.
Team ECCO has even blocked some aquarium professionals who communicated privately, according to one commenter.
“I think those of us who weren’t blocked have simply given up trying to stop the confusion and misinformation,” wrote Linsdsey Condray, who lists her occupation as senior aquarist at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska.
‘The way this aquarium has handled Charlotte’s case has not followed standard procedures for dealing with a pregnant stingray. There’s no information on where they sent the latest ultrasounds, but at this point they’ve made it pretty clear that they don’t want any help from other experts. she wrote.
And some members of the general public have become conspiratorial, speculating that the animal is being mistreated and that aquarium officials are lying about its condition.
Whatever the case, the ECCO team announced that the expectant mother is doing well.
In a video posted on the ECCO team Facebook page, Charlotte is shown being fed by a diver in the aquarium. Aquarium staff assured the public that she and the developing babies are healthy.
Certain animals are capable of reproducing through “facultative parthenogenesis,” in which the egg is fertilized with cells from the mother rather than by a male.
‘Here’s Charlotte’s Saturday update! “We are still patiently awaiting Charlotte’s delivery,” the update began.
‘The ultrasound we sent to our colleagues looked good and there were no signs of discomfort.
‘We will share new developments as they emerge.
‘This has been an incredible journey and we thank you for following us! Your support inspires us to continue our research into elasmobranch parthenogenesis.’
“Pathenogenesis” is the term for an animal that essentially fertilizes itself, using its own eggs to create a genetically complete clone in the absence of males of its species.
Parthenogenesis has not been confirmed as the cause of her apparently virgin birth, but it is the most likely explanation, given that she has not been around a male of her species in almost a decade.
Charlotte, seen in February. She has reportedly never shared a tank with a male of her species, but the aquarium said she is pregnant. It is scientifically possible, but there is not much precedent for this happening.
Investigators say Charlotte’s ultrasound shows she is pregnant with up to four cubs, but the aquarium has not shared details.
In March, the aquarium shared ultrasounds of Charlotte’s developing babies.
In the video they could be seen wagging their tails and experts said she was carrying up to four puppies.
Since her virgin birth is so unusual, the aquarium has not been able to inform the public exactly when she will give birth.
This has led to rampant speculation on social media.
‘Isn’t it time to have her checked out by a certified veterinarian? “This is getting to the point of neglect and potentially abuse,” one commenter wrote on the post.
Others reflected similar skepticism: ‘When are they going to call a vet to do a REAL checkup?’ Who were the results sent to? Can you post the results as they were sent to you? The first article I saw about this said that the lumps were noticed in September 2023… I would be 8 months pregnant now…’
And in fact, the aquarium said they started monitoring her in 2023 because of the beating.
Charlotte the pregnant virgin stingray can be seen swimming around her tank in this image from the aquarium’s latest update.
But scientists rarely have the opportunity to document parthenogenesis in real time, so there isn’t much information about how long it might take.
Charlotte’s pregnancy may take longer than the usual three or four months that stingrays take to gestate.
Other commentators were quick to point out this uncertainty and defend the aquarium from criticism.
“Friends, it takes the average stingray about 3-4 months to have babies,” one commenter wrote. “It seems they found out she was pregnant in mid-February.
—Which means she probably got pregnant in early February or late January.
‘Even if we give her the benefit of the doubt and say she got pregnant on January 20th, 3 months is still April 20th and 4 months is May 20th. It’s just not the time yet.
Another sarcastically commented: “So many stingray breeding specialists in the comments – amazing!”
The small aquarium has been inundated with media requests as well as public interest.
And it is true that there is little information available in the scientific world about Charlotte’s condition, as it is very rare.
But with so little real information to go on, and with such vague assurances from Team ECCO, the public has been left wondering and speculating about what is going on with the Charlotte ray.