Scientists at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park claim world first with cownose ray bred through artificial insemination
- Female Javanese cownose ray pup, named April after her birth month, is now eight months old, Ocean Park reveals
- Her existence follows a nearly 20-month effort involving the park’s veterinary and animal husbandry teams, and an unexpectedly long gestation period
Scientists at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park have bred the world’s first cownose ray via artificial insemination, with management hailing the success as a milestone for marine biology and conservation.
The female Javanese cownose ray pup, named April after her birth month, would turn eight months old later in December, the park revealed on Friday.
Her existence followed a nearly 20-month effort involving the park’s veterinary and animal husbandry teams and an unexpectedly long gestation period.
Female cownose rays typically have a gestation period of 47 to 53 weeks, according to Dr Lee Foo Khong, a senior vet at the park, but April kept them waiting for 61 weeks.
“We were like expectant mothers and fathers,” he quipped, explaining how his team was kept on tenterhooks with concerns over the pup’s health.
The tourist attraction’s chairman, Paulo Pong Kin-yee, said the breeding of the pup marked a milestone in the park’s conservation and education efforts.
“This accomplishment serves as a powerful example of our focus on conservation and education, inspiring us all to protect and understand our precious marine ecosystem,” he said.
