Ep 44: What happened to Charlotte the Stingray?

Charlotte the stingray took the internet by storm, seemingly pregnant despite not having a mate. The theories behind her miracle pregnancy, the uncovered truth, and the following backlash provide an important lesson in marine animal care and anthropomorphism.

The theories behind Charlotte’s pregnancy are rooted in real phenomena that happen in nature. However, the truth was that Charlotte had a rare reproductive disorder. As the news circulated, many women became understandably upset and equated Charlotte’s treatment to their own experiences in the medical field.

* images are not my own

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