Adelaide Zoo Shock over bashing of rarest flamingo

Chlidonias said:
I have never understood why the zoo only imported ten pairs. Flamingoes notoriously need large flocks for breeding. Very small flocks like Auckland's can produce eggs but it is in negligible numbers. The stated aim of the import was to start a sustainable flamingo population in NZ, and yet they only brought in the bare minimum. All they are going to achieve is a flock that produces a tiny irregular trickle of new flamingoes, hardly the basis for a sustainable population here. I could understand it if the 2001 import was like a trial run, to see if it all worked out, but there's no sign that that is the case.

There have recently (last couple of years) been some tentative breeding signs by the birds, but they are well into breeding age and if there had been a proper number in the flock then breeding would probably have started several years ago.

Like jay a few posts back, I'm sure I'd heard or read somewhere that the zoo was now thinking of the birds more as display than as a proper breeding flock.
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Actually, the situation of Auckland with still 8.8 birds is not sooo bad. In case the flock should diminish by 2 or more birds, their breeding future would be practically hopeless, but with 16 birds, they still may achieve their initial goal, a sustainable zoo population. Because even such small flocks can still produce a good number of eggs/chicks annually, they just need to start breeding, zoo flamingos can be surprisingly productive.

Some example: Chomutov with 7.10 flock had 5 eggs (from 5 pairs) this season (all lost to vermin), Bojnice with 12.7 flock has currently 7 pairs either incubating eggs or leading a chick.

Auckland still has the unique possibility to start a zoo population of flamingos in NZ/Aus. It would be sad if they would give up now.
 
Jana said:
Actually, the situation of Auckland with still 8.8 birds is not sooo bad. In case the flock should diminish by 2 or more birds, their breeding future would be practically hopeless, but with 16 birds, they still may achieve their initial goal, a sustainable zoo population. Because even such small flocks can still produce a good number of eggs/chicks annually, they just need to start breeding, zoo flamingos can be surprisingly productive.

Some example: Chomutov with 7.10 flock had 5 eggs (from 5 pairs) this season (all lost to vermin), Bojnice with 12.7 flock has currently 7 pairs either incubating eggs or leading a chick.

Auckland still has the unique possibility to start a zoo population of flamingos in NZ/Aus. It would be sad if they would give up now.
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yes it is possible, but I think you'll agree that small productive flocks are very much in the minority compared to small non-productive flocks.

I very much hope that they do start breeding and produce enough young for the flock to grow substantially, but I fear there are not good odds.
 
I was looking for the thread where we were talking about the likelihood of Auckland's flamingoes breeding....and it turned out to be this one! Sorry to cause unnecessary stress ;)

I don't know what happened to the sixteenth one. I only counted fifteen when I was at the zoo, and I thought it was odd but hadn't heard about any dying so assumed I'd missed one, but yes there are only fifteen now. (Assuming its not a typo: http://aucklandzoo.ogilvyinteractive.co.nz/explore-the-zoo/animal-exhibits/hippo-river.aspx "Continue along to see our flock of fifteen greater flamingos.")
 
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