The aquarium department of Shymkent Zoo has welcomed its first offspring of rare motoro stingrays: two pups, a male and a female, were born. This is a significant event for the zoo, as the species had not previously reproduced there, according to infohub.kz.
Motoro stingrays are freshwater inhabitants of South America, found in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná river basins. Unlike most fish, they do not lay eggs: the female gives birth to fully formed pups. That is why the arrival of the two pups marks the first successful breeding of motoro stingrays at Shymkent Zoo.
Today, both pups are active, feeding on their own, and growing well. They are being monitored by aquarium department staff and veterinarians.
However, the pups are not as harmless as they may seem. Motoro stingrays have a sharp venomous spine on their tail used for defense. It is regularly replaced: the old spine is shed and a new one grows in its place. A sting from this spine can cause severe pain, swelling, and tissue damage, and in severe cases can be life-threatening.
Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle reported that two maral fawns were born at Almaty Zoo. Staff shared the names given to the fawns and how they are doing.