Pretoria - The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa in Pretoria has more than just the usual hustle and bustle of the festive season to celebrate; it has also welcomed the arrival of 12 Caribbean flamingo chicks to its stable.
The flamingos started nesting sometime last month and had the zoo staff anxiously waiting throughout the 28- to 32-week incubation period before being graced by the new arrivals.
Craig Allenby, spokesperson for the zoo, said: “It’s always nice to welcome new animals to the garden and they’re a nice drawcard as well.”
Mavis Mokgatlhe, who was there with her family, was one of the few people who spotted the little additions and stood crouched showing her son where to spot them.
“They look so tiny and greyish almost lost even. I just want my son to see the little changes here,” said Mokgatlhe.
Lesego Ntlatleng said: “I didn’t even see the new flamingos. I simply like the scenery of the zoo parks.”
Conservation staff are also expecting to welcome at least another 25 eggs to the family.
Although the Caribbean flamingo is found in the Galapagos Islands, coastal Colombia and Venezuela and its nearby islands, they have also been part of the national zoo for quite some time.
The birds naturally inhabit saline lagoons, mudflats and shallow brackish coastal and inland lakes.
In the past, flamingo tongue was considered a delicacy and served in a pickled form.
Their feathers were also sought-after for their vibrant colours.
Although these magnificent birds are not classified as threatened, their numbers have declined markedly due to habitat destruction, the effects of global warming on their natural habitat and hunting.
Flamingos get their pink feathers from a unique form of algae that is naturally found in the food they eat in the water where they live.
To substitute this, the zoo feeds its flamingos a carotene supplement to ensure their rosy pink colouration.
Mokgatlhe said: “This zoo is bigger and has more animals, so we don’t mind driving from Johannesburg even if it is to see small changes like the baby flamingos.” - Pretoria News
Some fascinating facts
l All flamingos feed with their bills upside down. They tip their head into the water and filter-feed using special adaptations in the top half of their bill to gather the microorganisms that make up their diet.
l Flamingo fossil records date back to the Miocene epoch – about 10 million years ago.
l Flamingos are not born with their beautiful pink plumage. Juveniles are mostly grey with a tinge of pink on the underside of their bodies and wings. The flamingo’s bright pink colour comes from the carotenoid pigments they consume as part of their diet. Some scientists believe that a flamingo’s success in breeding relies on its bright colouration.
l The Caribbean flamingo measures between 120cm and 140cm in length.
l Male birds weigh approximately 2.8kg with females being slightly smaller at 2.2kg.
l Both flamingo parents provide their young with a type of milk called crop milk.
l Their mostly alkaline diet does not fit the needs of other animals. By eating the smallest of organisms, they not only keep watering holes productive, they also help circulate the water by turning over the mud and silt on the bottom of rivers, streams and ponds.