@Kifaru Bwana No, the remaining lessers are still with the Chileans, I saw them there last Saturday.
I fully agree with the idea for a lesser flamingo colony in the African section - although with lessers your need a very large colony (100 or more) for a reasonable chance of breeding success.
@KevinB, I would favour that the lesser flamingo if they cannot house a larger colony in Antwerpen/Planckendael Zoos ..., that the birds are transferred to a zoo commited to a large breeding colony of lesser flamingo and absorb the birds into their breeding colony.
@Kifaru Bwana I believe the birds at Planckendael are quite elderly and may not make the best candidates for transfer or moving into a colony, but I do agree that concentrating lesser flamingos into a limited number of large colonies would be a good idea.
@KevinB, OK. I am not sure what the reproductive age maxima are for flamingoes. It is known that flamingoes do grow to a considerable age and do breed well into some respectable ages. In birds with age comes maturity and seasoned behaviours ... making them more successful at pair bonding, breeding and hatching and rearing chicks to adulthood... Must check up their ecology again ... now!
I see that it may be in their best interest to move. Just I do wish also that Planckendael will invest in a larger colony of lesser flamingoes over other species (given their vulnerable status in the wild).
