Giving a 140 pound stingray a check up requires 8 people

Getting it annual inspection can seem daunting to anyone. For a 140-pound leopard whiptail ray (Giant leopard), living at the New England Aquarium in Boston, is a very different animal. At the weight of an adult with a wingspan of four feet three inches, he could barely move the giant. fish from the habitat to the examination pool, it is an exercise in teamwork.

“This process requires an average of eight people, so we must ensure we have the appropriate staff to carry out these studies safely from both an animal and human safety perspective.” Dr. Katie Tuxbury– says the senior veterinarian at the New England Aquarium. Popular Science.

It takes at least eight people to transport such a large stingray from its habitat to the examination pool. Image: New England Aquarium.
Vanessa Kahn

Leopard whip rays (also called leopard rays) have leopard-like spots and very long, thin tails that can be two to four times longer than their body. These tails help them balance, navigate in the water, and protect themselves from predators. Including the tail, these rays can reach 13 feet in length and are found in the waters of Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.

The New England Aquarium is home of two male leopard whiptail raysone weighs 140 pounds and the other a whopping 162 pounds. The smaller of the two has been there for 17 years and recently had his annual physical.

During a stingray inspection, aquarists focus on collecting fish from their exhibit and bringing them to the viewing pool. Once the stingray is anesthetized, the aquarist will submerge the stingray in the water to ensure that water flows over its surface. gills and hold the beam in place during the examination.

veterans doing an ultrasound on a stingray — Veterinarians perform an ultrasound on the stingray. *Image: New England Aquarium.*
Vanessa Kahn

“The examination is then carried out by one of the New England Aquarium's veterinarians in the same way as with most other species, using a head-to-tail approach, examining all aspects of the ray,” says Dr. Tuxbury. “The examination also includes performing an ultrasound and collecting a blood sample for analysis.”

The Aquarium will conduct at least one medical examination per year, as well as other additional examinations as necessary. Regarding the recent examination of this male stingray, his weight, eyes, skin and oral health are all normal. His heart, liver and gastrointestinal tract are also working as expected. The beam again began to swim around its exhibition – and food– only in 30 minutes. Two leopard whiptails eat 2.5 pounds of food every day.