Scientists are ringing in the holidays with a special celebration – the first birthday of the world’s first captive-born Maugean skate.
Last December, researchers from the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) collected an adult female skate and 50 wild eggs from Macquarie Harbour.
The Christmas miracle, a healthy male skate, was the first wild egg to hatch from the batch last Christmas Eve in IMAS captive breeding facilities.
“It’s an absolute honour to be celebrating a first birthday,” IMAS researcher and Maugean skate captive breeding program leader, Professor Jayson Semmens said.
To mark the special occasion, the IMAS team, in consultation with the university vets, have organised a special treat for the birthday skate.
“We’ll give our skate, including the birthday boy, a dog toy where we freeze squid, prawns and an oily fish to give them stimulation through problem solving,” Professor Semmens said.
To read the full article, click the link below: It’s a celebration – first captive-born Maugean skate turns one | University of Tasmania
