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Bizarre new twist in Charlotte the virgin stingray saga that captivated America: 'The narrative is no longer defendable'
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 among two people who verified Charlotte had conceived without a mate.
Dr Jones, founder of The Aquarium Vet in Australia, told DailyMail.com that he was only sent still ultrasound images in January and thought they showed egg casing of what was a possible pregnancy - but not a confirmation that was the case.
‘I asked if they had seen any movement in the ultrasound and did not get a reply,’ he said while explaining that he never suggested a shark had mated with the animal, which was the North Carolina facility’s conclusion 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 likely never pregnant but is dying of the illness that made her ovaries swell.
Dr Jones, founder of The Aquarium Vet in Australia, told DailyMail.com that he was only sent still ultrasound images in January and thought they showed egg casing of what was a possible pregnancy
He continued to explain that he suggested that it could be parthenogenesis, but never confirmed it to be 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, such as Charlotte, are prone to reproductive tract disease that engorges the uterus and leads to death if untreated.
'The latest video showed the animal in very poor body condition,' said Boles.
'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.
Before the big move, Ramer was a teacher for Henderson County for nearly 10 years - it is unclear what grade or subjects she taught.
Financial data for Team Ecco shows 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 she was swelling on her top.
The team said they thought it could be cancer, but after performing ultrasounds, they realized she was pregnant with multiple pups and announced the news in a Facebook post on February 6.
'Our stingray, Charlotte, is expecting! We have held this close to our hearts for over 3 months. We have ultrasound images confirmed by two supporters: Dr. Robert Jones, the Aquarium Vet out of Australia, and Becka Campbell, PhD candidate at Arizona State Univ. The really amazing thing is we have no male ray,' the post reads.
Brenda Ramer started Team ECCO Ocean Center and Aquarium, also known as The Aquarium & Shark Lab, in 2009. Before the big move, Ramer was a teacher for Henderson County for nearly 10 years
The team said they thought it could be cancer, but after performing ultrasounds, they realized she was pregnant with multiple pups and announced the news in a Facebook post in February
Campbell has not been identified.
‘Since [January], I have not given any further advice or been involved with the facility, Dr Jones said.
‘It has all turned very messy and to be honest, I do not want to be involved any further.’
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,' she said. 'There is a potential that she mated with one of these one male sharks. We have very unique joo-joo going on here.'
However, it is impossible for sharks and stingrays to produce an offspring because the animals do not have enough genetic features, including chromosomes.
'I spent some time defending them from the idea of the shark, thinking it was born out of ignorance,' said Boles. 'But I was being naïve at the time.'
'I don’t know [Ramer's] motivation, but before this went public she was advised that the animal was sick.'
Boles told DailyMail.com that Charlotte has been at the facility since at least 2015 and is likely 15 to 16 years old, making her susceptible to a reproductive illness.
Financial data for Team Ecco shows they generated $169,00 in revenue in 2022, but had $202,00 in expenses and $110,000 in liabilities
Researchers with the South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction & Conservation in Florida studied nearly 50 aquarium-housed south stingrays in 2019, finding 65 percent of them had developed uterus issues.
'Reproductive disease, characterized by cystic ovaries, unovulated eggs and, often, an enlarged uterus, is prevalent in older conservation-managed female stingrays,' the team shared in the study.
The illness is brought on by high levels of estrogen among unsuccessful pregnancies.
Currently, there are no established treatment protocols for cystic ovaries in stingrays.
Veterinarians have used different methods to treat this particular stingray including draining the fluid, using hormonal therapy and treating with antimicrobial agents.
'I don’t think she will live longer, and I think it is too late for care,' said Boles.
'I want her to get care but think of it this way. If I have my uncle staying in my house and he’s ill for six months and I finally take him to the hospital, I have neglected care.'
He continued to explain that if this is a failed pregnancy, then complications have arisen that also require medical attention - such as remove a dead fetus.
After Ramer shocked the world with claims of a 'shark daddy,' the narrative changed to parthenogenesis, a type of asexual reproduction, which would be the first case observed in a round stingray.
The last time the world heard about Charlotte before Thursday was on May 17 - but that was after the aquarium posted a bizarre message that it deleted shortly after
Because the mysterious virgin birth gained attention worldwide, the aquarium began sharing updates just twice a week on Facebook and Instagram.
The last time the world heard about Charlotte before Thursday was on May 17 - but that was after the aquarium posted a bizarre message that it deleted shortly after.
'After talking with Charlotte we agreed she should write her own update later today... as trying and hard as all these events have been on us, please look to her side,' part of the post read, which was riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes.
However, the story has been that Charlotte became pregnant in September, which means she has been carrying pups 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 stingrays is about four to five months.
'[At this point,] it makes you think something is wrong. This isn't a nine-month pregnancy, the baby is dead and no longer there.'
He continued to explain that if an ultrasound was done, the technician could measure the size of the pups, just like they do with humans, and give an estimation of birth.
'It is a little suspicious, but I would be really surprised if they cooked this whole thing up,' Wetherbee said.