More Than 2,000 Abandoned Flamingo Chicks Rescued By Conservationists

Feb 21, 2019

Humans love flamingos. We plaster their image all over our phones and mailboxes, and we all know someone whose bathroom is decked out in flamingo decor. What's not to love about a bird that looks like it was created by a 5-year-old with a can of pink spray paint?

Despite their popularity, flamingos are having a hard time surviving. Heatwaves and droughts are destroying their natural habitat. Every year, flamingos from all over South Africa flock to Kamfers Dam, Northern Cape to breed. When the relentless summer sun caused the reservoir to dry up, the flamingos left, leaving more than 2,000 helpless chicks behind.

As soon as news about the abandoned flamingos broke, rescue organizations stepped in to help. VulPro and the Wild Heart Wildlife foundation took on the enormous task of transporting 500 chicks to a conservation center in Cape Town, 590 miles from the dam.

Instead of learning to fly from their parents, the flamingo chicks took their first flight in an airplane, as rescuers fought to stabilize the fragile chicks. Sadly, 186 chicks died within 24 hours of being abandoned by the adult flamingos. The surviving flamingos are being cared for by conservation groups, including the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds. They will be rehabilitated and eventually released back into the wild.

Flamingo chicks look nothing like their bright pink parents. The chicks are covered in soft gray or white feathers. Flamingos develop their pink coloring over time as they eat a beta-carotene-rich diet. The rescuers face some unique challenges when it comes to caring for the young flamingos. The chicks need space to run to strengthen their leg muscles. They also need to learn to hunt for food.

Mark Anderson, the CEO of BirdLife South Africa, hopes the rescuers took the proper precautions when rescuing the chicks. He worries the rescue efforts may have disturbed the nests of other flamingos, causing more birds to abandon their young. 

The lesser flamingo of South Africa is considered a near threatened species. The population of these beautiful birds is decreasing rapidly. Conservationists need to exercise caution any time they disturb an animal's natural habitat. Fortunately, the flamingo colony at Kamfers Dam appears to be recovering with no signs of long term damage.

Help us spread the word about the amazing rescuers who saved hundreds of vulnerable flamingo chicks by passing this story to everyone you know. What do you think about the rescuers efforts? Do you know of any similar conservation efforts? Were they successful? Let us know in the comments!