Charlotte the stingray dead after national recognition, reproductive disease announcement

Will Hofmann, Asheville Citizen Times
Updated ·2 min read

Charlotte, the stingray that gained national recognition after its host aquarium announced it was pregnant without a male mate, has died, the Hendersonville-based Team ECCO announced June 30.

The California round stingray brought national attention to Hendersonville and Western North Carolina after the Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO announced her improbable pregnancy in February. Team ECCO staff suggested the stingray had gotten pregnant through a process called parthenogenesis, which is an asexual reproduction where a female can produce an embryo without a sperm fertilized egg.

Three months later, Team ECCO staff diagnosed the stingray with a "rare reproductive disease" in May and said that she was not pregnant shortly after. Breanda Ramer, owner of the aquarium, told the Citizen Times in June that they had closed the aquarium with the plan of setting up a consultation and "plan of action" for Charlotte's treatment. A more recent update indicated that Charlotte's condition was "stable" with "no decrease in appetite or activity."

The aquarium estimated Charlotte was "12-14 years old," according to Hendersonville Times News reporting in February. Round rays have a life expectancy of 10-12 years, according to the California State Parks website.

Charlotte the stingray is pictured at feeding time on the evening of June 4 at the Team ECCO Aquarium & Shark Lab in Hendersonville.
Charlotte the stingray is pictured at feeding time on the evening of June 4 at the Team ECCO Aquarium & Shark Lab in Hendersonville.

The night of June 30, Team ECCO provided the following statement on the stingray's death:

"We are sad to announce, after continuing treatment with her medical care team and specialist, our ray Charlotte passed away today. We are continuing to work with her medical care team and research specialist. The Team ECCO family appreciates your continued love and support while we navigate this great loss.

The Aquarium will remain temporarily closed during which time our staff will continue to care daily for our other fish and animals."

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Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Charlotte the stingray dead after reproductive disease announcement