The veterinarian who ‘confirmed’ the immaculate conception of a stingray at a North Carolina aquarium has shared new details about Charlotte’s pregnancy.
The Aquarium & Shark Lab announced in February that Dr. Rob Jones was one of two people who verified that Charlotte had conceived without a partner.
Dr Jones, founder of The Aquarium Vet in Australia, told DailyMail.com that he was only sent ultrasound images in January and thought they showed an egg shell from what was a possible pregnancy, but not confirmation that that was the case.
“I asked them if they had seen any movement on the ultrasound and got no response,” he said, explaining that he never suggested a shark had mated with the animal, which was the conclusion the North Carolina facility reached in February.
The Hendersonville Aquarium also revealed Thursday that Charlotte has developed a rare reproductive disease, and a scientist told DailyMail.com that the animal was probably never pregnant but is dying from the disease that caused her ovaries to swell.
Dr Jones, founder of The Aquarium Vet in Australia, told DailyMail.com that he was only sent ultrasound still images in January and thought they showed the eggshell of what was a possible pregnancy.
He went on to explain that he suggested they could be pathogens, but never confirmed it was true.
DailyMail.com has attempted to contact Aquarium & Shark Lab several times and has yet to receive a response.
Larry Boles, director of the aquarium science program at Oregon Coast Community College, told DailyMail.com that older stingrays, like Charlotte, are prone to reproductive tract diseases that inflame the uterus and lead to death if left untreated. .
“The last video showed the animal in very poor body condition,” Boles said.
‘The narrative is no longer defensible. I don’t think he’ll live any longer and I think it’s too late to get care.’
Brenda Ramer founded Team ECCO Ocean Center and Aquarium, also known as The Aquarium & Shark Lab, in 2009.
Before the big move, Ramer was a teacher in Henderson County for almost 10 years; It is not clear what grade or subjects she taught.
Team Ecco’s financial data shows that they generated $169,00 in revenue in 2022, but had $202,00 in expenses and $110,000 in liabilities.
Charlotte’s story began in September when aquarium staff noticed her top was swelling.
The team said they thought it might be cancer, but after doing ultrasounds, they realized she was pregnant with several puppies and announced the news in a Facebook post on February 6.
‘Our stingray, Charlotte, is pregnant! We have kept this close to our hearts for over 3 months. We have ultrasound images confirmed by two supporters: Dr. Robert Jones, a veterinarian at the Australian Aquarium, and Becka Campbell, a PhD candidate at Arizona State University. The really surprising thing is that we don’t have a male stingray,” the post reads.
Brenda Ramer founded Team ECCO Ocean Center and Aquarium, also known as The Aquarium & Shark Lab, in 2009. Before the big move, Ramer was a teacher in Henderson County for almost 10 years.
The team said they thought it might be cancer, but after doing ultrasounds, they realized she was pregnant with several puppies and announced the news in a Facebook post in February.
Campbell has not been identified.
“Since (January), I have not given further advice or participated in the facilities,” Dr. Jones said.
“Everything has become very complicated and, to be honest, I don’t want to get involved anymore.”
Ramer said in a video posted on Facebook that Charlotte had bite marks when they determined she may have been pregnant.
“We thought sharks bite when they mate,” he said. ‘There is a possibility that she may have mated with one of these male sharks. We have a very unique joo-joo here.’
However, it is impossible for sharks and rays to produce offspring because the animals do not have enough genetic characteristics, including chromosomes.
“I spent some time defending them against the shark idea, thinking it was born out of ignorance,” Boles said. “But at the time I was being naive.”
“I don’t know (Ramer’s) motivation, but before this became public he was informed that the animal was sick.”
Boles told DailyMail.com that Charlotte has been at the facility since at least 2015 and is probably between 15 and 16 years old, making her susceptible to reproductive illness.
Team Ecco’s financial data shows that they generated $169,00 in revenue in 2022, but had $202,00 in expenses and $110,000 in liabilities.
Researchers at the South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction & Conservation in Florida studied nearly 50 southern rays housed in aquariums in 2019 and found that 65 percent of them had developed problems in utero.
“Reproductive diseases, characterized by cystic ovaries, non-ovulated eggs, and often an enlarged uterus, are prevalent in older female manta rays managed through conservation,” the team shared in the study.
The disease is caused by high levels of estrogen in failed pregnancies.
Currently, there are no established treatment protocols for cystic ovaries in manta rays.
Veterinarians have used different methods to treat this particular stingray, including draining the fluid, using hormone therapy, and treating with antimicrobial agents.
“I don’t think he’ll live any longer and I think it’s too late to get care,” Boles said.
‘I want her to get attention, but think about it this way. If I have my uncle in my house and he is sick for six months and I finally take him to the hospital, I have neglected the care.
He went on to explain that if it is a failed pregnancy, then complications have arisen that also require medical attention, such as the removal of a dead fetus.
After Ramer shocked the world with claims of a “daddy shark,” the narrative shifted to pathogenesis, a type of asexual reproduction, which would be the first case observed in a round stingray.
The last time the world heard from Charlotte before Thursday was May 17, but that was after the aquarium posted a strange message that it deleted shortly after.
Because the mysterious virgin birth drew worldwide attention, the aquarium began sharing updates only twice a week on Facebook and Instagram.
The last time the world heard from Charlotte before Thursday was May 17, but that was after the aquarium posted a strange message that it deleted shortly after.
“After speaking with Charlotte, we agreed that you should write your own update later today… as hard as all of these events have been for us, please look to your side,” read part of the post, which was riddled with spelling and grammatical errors.
However, the story is that Charlotte became pregnant in September, meaning she has been pregnant with puppies for at least eight months.
Bradley Wetherbee, a professor in the department of biological sciences at the University of Rhode Island, told DailyMail.com that the gestation period for manta rays is four to five months.
‘(At this point) it makes you think something is wrong. This is not a nine month pregnancy, the baby is dead and gone.
He went on to explain that if an ultrasound was done, the technician could measure the size of the pups, just as they do with humans, and give an estimate of the birth.
“It’s a little fishy, but I would be very surprised if they made this whole thing up,” Wetherbee said.