Birmingham Sealife Centre announces the birth of their first baby stingrays

Native to the western Indian Ocean and eastern Pacific Ocean, the graceful creatures are a high-risk species also known as Maskrays, and are currently being threatened by overfishing, exploitation and the destruction of coral reefs.

Only breeding once a year, three successful blue-spotted stingray births, from two different mums, is a big success for The National Sea Life Centre Birmingham.

The babies weighed less than 170g and measured less than 30cm long and 16cm wide when they were first born.

The miniature miracles could grow up to 47cm wide and 70cm long with a very venomous barb of up to 30cm long. They are easily distinguished by their reddish brown bodies, distinctive blue centres, and scattered black and blue spots.

The National Sea Life Centre Birmingham's aquarist, Naomi Bird, is perfectly placed to help the three very precious babies. A mum-to-be herself, it isn't the first time her maternal instinct has been called upon at the attraction. She has already raised the penguin colony at the centre.

Naomi said: "Blue-spotted stingrays face serious threat from human-induced problems. If we want them around in our children's lifetime, it is important we act now. So we are absolutely delighted that two of our resident stingrays have bred successfully."

Visitors can catch a glimpse of the new arrivals as part of the attraction's Behind the Scenes Tour experience, available to pre-book.