A premature baby ray has joined its siblings after spending two months in a plastic sandwich bag to save its life. It would have died if Frazer Mackay, an aquarist at Macduff Marine Aquarium in Aberdeenshire, had not stepped in to put it in the bag. The plastic bag acted as a protection sack, with tiny holes in each corner, allowing the creature to develop before it was eventually released into the nursery tank on Tuesday. Baby ray settles into life in the nursery tank (Macduff Marine Aquarium/PA)While not strictly a recognised technique to save baby rays, Mr Rowe said the procedure is quite normal in aquariums, having witnessed similar efforts in the past. The baby ray’s gender will become identifiable once its body has developed, but for now staff at the aquarium are keeping a close eye on its progress.

Source: Irish Examiner February 21, 2019 13:41 UTC