(Photo: Pexels/Brian Mann)
Charlotte, the pregnant stingray, may not be pregnant at all. Instead, the virgin ray with immaculate conception is probably sick and dying, according to an expert.
Charlotte The Virgin May Not Be Pregnant At All
For months, Charlotte the stingray's pregnancy has been making headlines because she is a virgin. However, her pregnancy leaves many perplexed because she is already months overdue. Some even believed that her pups were no longer alive.
Larry Boles, director of the aquarium science program at Oregon Coast Community College, recently shared his opinion about Charlotte's case. He believed that Charlotte wasn't pregnant but sick. Charlotte may have developed a rare reproductive tract disease, and she's likely dying of the illness and never pregnant. Boles suspected that Charlotte's illness engorges the uterus, and it could lead to her death if left untreated. However, her case may be hopeless.
"The latest video showed the animal in very poor body condition," Boles said. "The narrative is no longer defendable. I don't think she will live longer, and I think it is too late for care."
Brenda Ramer started Team ECCO Ocean Center and Aquarium, also known as The Aquarium & Shark Lab, in 2009. She was previously a teacher for Henderson County for nearly ten years. According to Team Ecco's financial records, they generated $169,00 in 2022 but also incurred $202,00 in costs and $110,000 in liabilities.
Charlotte's tale started in September when employees at the aquarium saw that her top was swollen. After doing ultrasounds, the team discovered she was pregnant with numerous pups. However, they initially believed it might be cancer. They shared the pregnancy news on Facebook on Feb. 6.
In its announcement, Team ECCO said Charlotte's pregnancy was verified by Dr. Robert Jones of the Aquarium Vet in Australia and Becka Campbell, PhD candidate at Arizona State University. Daily Mail noted that Campbell has not been identified.
Meanwhile, Jones clarified that he wasn't involved in the facility and was only sent still ultrasound images in January, which he thought showed egg casing of a possible pregnancy. However, it was not a confirmation that it was indeed the case. He asked the team if they saw any movement in the ultrasound but did not get a reply. Amid the controversy surrounding Charlotte's pregnancy, Jones said things had turned "messy," and he did not want to be "involved any further."
ALSO READ: Charlotte the Stingray Gets Pregnant Without Male Mate; How Did It Happen?
How Can a Stingray Get Pregnant Without Mate?
Charlotte's pregnancy attracted worldwide attention because she was a virgin, and many considered her case an immaculate conception. Since rays may retain sperm for up to a year, there were first rumors that she became pregnant by a white-spotted bamboo shark, who shared a tank. However, some experts disagreed, arguing that Charlotte had previously lived alone for far too long and that this was not the case.
Dr. Christopher Lowe, the director of the Shark Lab at California State University and a professor of marine biology, discussed Charlotte's situation. He said there are two ways stingrays like Charlotte can become pregnant: one involves a mate, and the other is through parthenogenesis. The second explanation is more plausible.
"It turns out that parthenogenesis is more common in sharks and rays than we previously thought, so this is the most likely explanation," Lowe said, adding that this can quickly be confirmed by a DNA test with a "viable young."
RELATED ARTICLE: Charlotte the Virgin Stingray's Pregnancy Is Already Overdue; Experts Fear Her Babies Could Be Dead
Check out more news and information on Animals in Science Times.