North Carolina aquarium releases update about Charlotte the virgin stingray's ... trends now
Phew. Charlotte the virgin stingray's babies are OK and she is still on track to give birth any moment.
That's according to the latest update from the North Carolina aquarium team that cares for her.
The Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO posted on Facebook and Instagram that the stingray and her pups are in good health after getting results from the latest ultrasound.
The aquarium's announcement over the weekend came in response to ongoing public pressure for more information about the pregnant stingray's condition - with some experts even speculating that her unborn young may have died.
The skepticisms stems from the aquarium share the first news of the pregnancy in February - and two months have passed with no changes.
Charlotte the stingray is expected to give birth soon, but because of the unusual nature of her pregnancy, experts can't say when that will be.
But the announcement has done little to stem suspicions among some observers.
In the absence of details, rumors have swirled.
Charlotte became the center of a media frenzy back in February when Team ECCO announced she was pregnant - despite not living around any male stingrays.
Charlotte the stingray and her unborn babies are in good health, according to the latest update from the Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO in Hendersonville, North Carolina, where she has lived since 2016.
But while the new announcement shared on Facebook assured the public that Charlotte is doing well, it contains no new details about her condition or which experts have been consulted.
Team ECCO has not responded to multiple requests for comment from DailyMail.com.
In the months since Charlotte's immaculate conception was announced, some observers have grown concerned that the aquarium is not communicating clearly with the public, leading some to suspect something is amiss.
Team ECCO's updates have been sporadic, and they don't always contain much specific information about Charlotte.
Some experts have expressed frustration that Team ECCO has refused input from other aquarium professionals.
Team ECCO has even blocked some aquarium professionals who reached out privately, according to one commenter.
'I think those of us who didn't get blocked have just given up on trying to slow down the confusion and misinformation,' wrote Linsdsey Condray, who lists her occupation as Senior Aquarist at Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska.
'The way this aquarium has handled Charlotte's case has not been following standard procedures for dealing with a pregnant ray. There's not any information of where they sent the latest ultrasounds, but up to this point they've made it pretty clear they don't want any assistance from other experts.' she wrote.
And some members of the general public have grown conspiratorial, speculating that the animal is being mistreated and that officials at the aquarium are lying about her status.
Whatever the case may be, Team ECCO announced that the expectant mother is doing well.
In a video posted to Team ECCO's Facebook page, Charlotte is shown being fed by a diver at the aquarium. The aquarium's staff assured the
