News

Charlotte, the pregnant stingray, has rare reproductive disease

The pregnant stingray Charlotte in February swimming laps in her tank at the Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team Ecco.

By Amy McCraw, Published: May 31, 2024

Hendersonville’s famous pregnant stingray, Charlotte, has developed a rare reproductive disease, according to statements from the Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO.

The aquarium has been busy gathering data on Charlotte and analyzing test and lab results concerning the stingray, ECCO said on its Facebook page.

"The reports show that Charlotte has developed a rare reproductive disease that has negatively impacted her reproductive system,” ECCO said Thursday. “The findings are truly a sad and unexpected medical development.”
In an update posted on Friday, the aquarium said it does not yet know the name of the disease.
“Many are asking the name of the reproductive disease, but it is simply found under that text reproductive disease," the aquarium said. "We are actively searching more information ourselves."
Reached by phone on Friday, aquarium founder Brenda “B.J.” Ramer declined to answer questions about Charlotte’s health or the status of the pups she had been carrying for the last few months. Ramer said she planned to release more information about Charlotte and her pregnancy next week.
From the time the aquarium on Main Street announced in February that Charlotte became pregnant without the benefit of a male stingray, likely through a process called parthenogenesis, marine scientists, schoolchildren and fans around the world have been anxiously waiting for Charlotte to give birth.
She’s been the focus of numerous articles and television news broadcasts and even late-night television comedy sketches.
Scientists from across the country and around the world also wanted to see Charlotte’s pups for themselves to learn more about how she became pregnant.
The Facebook post on the reproductive disease emphasized that the aquarium’s focus continues to be the stingray’s health and wellbeing.
“We will work with, and be guided by, veterinarians and specialists to better understand this disease and the treatment options for Charlotte,” the nonprofit said. “While the research of this disease is limited, we hope that Charlotte’s case and medical treatment will positively contribute to science and be of benefit to other rays in the future. ... Please respect Charlotte and her care team as we navigate this unexpected news and work to determine the best path forward."