Iguana

An iguana in a zoo in the United Kingdom has given birth despite never having paid with a man, according to the installation staff, who has acclaimed the “virgin birth” as “one of the rarest events in the animal kingdom.”

The Guardians of the Exotic Zoo in Telford, in the center of England, say that the female iguana with a hull head could give birth to eight healthy maids in the last week of August due to a natural reproductive phenomenon called parthenogenesis, which allows the non -fertilized eggs to become embryos that become genetic clones of the mother.

“This is one of the most rare events in the animal kingdom,” said Scott Adams, director of the zoo, in a statement shared with News themezone.

Finding eggs in the mother’s enclosure was “unusual but exciting at the same time,” he said, adding that the staff had “thinking, what is happening here?”

“When we confirm that the eggs were fertile without any contact with a man, our jaws hit the floor. These babies are essentially mini-march clones, and seeing them prosper is incredible. For us, it is a powerful reminder that life finds a path in the most unexpected circumstances,” Adams said.

The hatcheries are currently living in the zoo and moisture climate controlled by moisture reptile nursery, and must be exhibited to the public in the coming weeks.

“This story gives us an incredible opportunity to talk to our visitors about genetics, evolution and the challenges that reptiles face in nature,” Scott said. “It is not just exciting, it is also important for the education of science and conservation.”

Iguanas with a helmet head, which are native to Central and South America, face the loss of habitat and illegal poaching by people who can sell them as pets.

Partenogenesis has only been documented in a handful of reptile species worldwide. It has also been seen in other types of animals, including a Women’s Epaulette Shark that gave birth to a puppy in the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois in 2023.

• Animal rescue