Adelaide Zoo So what happened to Greater???

[Zoofan15]

I believe a few years ago within the UK there was a move within the zoos there to move to transfer any and all small flocks of the Chilean Flamingos to other zoos that had larger groups to give them a better chance of breeding success!

That’s a great example of the cooperation all zoos should follow for the good of the species.

Given they were down to 16 adults/founders when Auckland Zoo’s flock first successfully bred in 2014, they’ve achieved outstanding results; but it’d be ideal if there was another holder in the country that could swap around non breeding birds with them to see if a change of available mates or even environment brought about breeding.

 

[Zorro]

That’s a great example of the cooperation all zoos should follow for the good of the species.

Given they were down to 16 adults/founders when Auckland Zoo’s flock first successfully bred in 2014, they’ve achieved outstanding results; but it’d be ideal if there was another holder in the country that could swap around non breeding birds with them to see if a change of available mates or even environment brought about breeding.

True. There was/is some interest among some of the zoos within Australia to have them again but again it goes back to the importation issues!

 

[Zoofan15]

True. There was/is some interest among some of the zoos within Australia to have them again but again it goes back to the importation issues!

Imagine what Monarto Safari Park could do with this species. They could potentially accommodate a huge flock in a naturalistic environment.

Auckland Zoo have a flamingo aviary mentioned in their masterplan. With the elephants going, they’d have the space to build something world class. Hopefully the breeding won’t grind to a halt overnight when they move - I’m sure there’s plenty of examples where species have bred well in cramped accomodation; then refused to breed for love nor money in something more spacious or naturalistic.

 

[Zorro]

Imagine what Monarto Safari Park could do with this species. They could potentially accommodate a huge flock in a naturalistic environment.

Auckland Zoo have a flamingo aviary mentioned in their masterplan. With the elephants going, they’d have the space to build something world class. Hopefully the breeding won’t grind to a halt overnight when they move - I’m sure there’s plenty of examples where species have bred well in cramped accomodation; then refused to breed for love nor money in something more spacious or naturalistic.

True the effect would be quite stunning!
I wonder if its possible for them to perhaps import a few more it could kick start them to even more breeding!

 

[Zorro]

That’s a great example of the cooperation all zoos should follow for the good of the species.

Given they were down to 16 adults/founders when Auckland Zoo’s flock first successfully bred in 2014, they’ve achieved outstanding results; but it’d be ideal if there was another holder in the country that could swap around non breeding birds with them to see if a change of available mates or even environment brought about breeding.

I seem to recall a race course around Miami in Florida that had Hundreds of Flamingos near the track, I dont know if they maintained them or bred them there but from what I can recall it appeared to be part of the race course!

 

[Zoofan15]

True the effect would be quite stunning!
I wonder if its possible for them to perhaps import a few more it could kick start them to even more breeding!

I’d be interested to know the details surrounding why an import exception was granted for their import in 2001 - and whether it could be done again.

I’ve found this article, but only the abstract is viewable:

Twenty Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber roseus eggs, originating from a flock held at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, UK, were hatched in incubators. The chicks were hand‐reared in a pre‐export isolation facility before being successfully translocated to Auckland Zoo, New Zealand, at 33–71 days of age. At Auckland Zoo the flamingos were held in a quarantine facility for 30 days prior to being introduced to an enclosure on view to the public.

https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1748-1090.2006.00261.x

Of these 20 founders, three died prior to 2006; and one died between 2006 and 2014.

 

[Tafin]

I seem to recall a race course around Miami in Florida that had Hundreds of Flamingos near the track, I dont know if they maintained them or bred them there but from what I can recall it appeared to be part of the race course!

Maybe wild American Flamingos?

 

[Jana]

I seem to recall a race course around Miami in Florida that had Hundreds of Flamingos near the track, I dont know if they maintained them or bred them there but from what I can recall it appeared to be part of the race course!

You think of Hialeah Park Race Track. Wild caught flamingos were released by owner there and started to breed in 1937 and continue to do so till today. US zoos do collect eggs there and distribute them to zoo collections.

If we think about large flamingo flocks in zoos, aside of famous Slimbridge, notable case is currently Gaiapark Kerkrade - they built a new aviary and stocked it with 400 Greater flamingos (most of that flock came from Walsrode) in year 2019. That flock has bred 50 chicks last summer.

 

[Zorro]

You think of Hialeah Park Race Track. Wild caught flamingos were released by owner there and started to breed in 1937 and continue to do so till today. US zoos do collect eggs there and distribute them to zoo collections.

If we think about large flamingo flocks in zoos, aside of famous Slimbridge, notable case is currently Gaiapark Kerkrade - they built a new aviary and stocked it with 400 Greater flamingos (most of that flock came from Walsrode) in year 2019. That flock has bred 50 chicks last summer.

Thank you to confirm. Wow thats a lot of Flamingos. I will try to track down some more info and pics if I can, thanks again!

 

[Zorro]

I’d be interested to know the details surrounding why an import exception was granted for their import in 2001 - and whether it could be done again.

I’ve found this article, but only the abstract is viewable:

Twenty Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber roseus eggs, originating from a flock held at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, UK, were hatched in incubators. The chicks were hand‐reared in a pre‐export isolation facility before being successfully translocated to Auckland Zoo, New Zealand, at 33–71 days of age. At Auckland Zoo the flamingos were held in a quarantine facility for 30 days prior to being introduced to an enclosure on view to the public.

https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1748-1090.2006.00261.x

Of these 20 founders, three died prior to 2006; and one died between 2006 and 2014.

Would it be worth contacting the zoo?

 

[Zoofan15]

Would it be worth contacting the zoo?

I would be interested to know the details of the import exception as it could provide clues as to how it could be feasible with other species.

As for importing more flamingos, I can’t see Auckland Zoo making this investment of resources when they already have a breeding flock. Although more flamingos would enhance their collection, it wouldn’t be a priority.

They now have 16 founders and 7 offspring, so they could probably reach the desired number of 40 within the next 20 years. This is when I’d expect breeding to really take off! I’m sure the other New Zealand zoos would jump at the chance to receive an off shoot flock down the line.

 

[toothlessjaws]

An update on the two last flamingos that lived in Australia (what a sad sentence that is to write). Almost three years on since the death of Australia's last flamingo, Chile - the last Chilean Flamingo - and Greater/Alexander - the last Greater Flamingo - are still in storage and are awaiting to be properly prepared to be eventually put on display in the South Australian Museum. However they need to fundraise $50 000 first...something tells me they will remain where they are for a little while longer. A news article from a few weeks ago:

$50,000 to taxidermy and maintain two flamingoes seems pretty ridiculous since you can buy one already mounted for around $5000-$6000. You could probably fly an American taxidermist over to mount them for less the $50,000.

Also, why is Adelaide zoo on the news talking about the risk imported flamingoes could pose for our native birds? Sounds like they've drunk the bureaucratic cool-aid here. The absurdity of our importation laws is that zoos are denied the ability to import birds that would be held in high-security facilities and have no native counterparts (like flamingos), but private individuals can import all the chickens, pigeons and exotic parrots they like, so long as they stump up the hard cash.

My advice to Adelaide, put the $50,000 towards importing some palm cockatoos from the USA, since in a logic defying irony, this is the easiest way to establish a genetically diverse breeding group of one of our own threatened native avian species.

Or put the money towards lobbying the government to stop hobbling zoo-based conservation initiatives with a completely unworkable and agonisingly slow approach to approving animal imports.

 

[Zorro]

$50,000 to taxidermy and maintain two flamingoes seems pretty ridiculous since you can buy one already mounted for around $5000-$6000. You could probably fly an American taxidermist over to mount them for less the $50,000.

Also, why is Adelaide zoo on the news talking about the risk imported flamingoes could pose for our native birds? Sounds like they've drunk the bureaucratic cool-aid here. The absurdity of our importation laws is that zoos are denied the ability to import birds that would be held in high-security facilities and have no native counterparts (like flamingos), but private individuals can import all the chickens, pigeons and exotic parrots they like, so long as they stump up the hard cash.

My advice to Adelaide, put the $50,000 towards importing some palm cockatoos from the USA, since in a logic defying irony, this is the easiest way to establish a genetically diverse breeding group of one of our own threatened native avian species.

Or put the money towards lobbying the government to stop hobbling zoo-based conservation initiatives with a completely unworkable and agonisingly slow approach to approving animal imports.

You hit the nail right on the head here, It appears to be ok to import racing Pigeons that could fly all over the country at what possible risk?,
And agree with you again the massive amount of money to stuff a bird that could be put to far better use as you say importing some Palm Cockatoos from the US and start a breeding program here as you say. Also does it really need many years to sort out new importation laws or are they just bogged down in government bureaucracy with bureaucrats doing what they do best?.

 

[Zorro]

You think of Hialeah Park Race Track. Wild caught flamingos were released by owner there and started to breed in 1937 and continue to do so till today. US zoos do collect eggs there and distribute them to zoo collections.

If we think about large flamingo flocks in zoos, aside of famous Slimbridge, notable case is currently Gaiapark Kerkrade - they built a new aviary and stocked it with 400 Greater flamingos (most of that flock came from Walsrode) in year 2019. That flock has bred 50 chicks last summer.

Yes quite interesting how the first birds were imported from Cuba, and as you mentioned used to seed other collections around the USA including the Hollywood racetrack in California!. The infield area of the racetrack is now a National Audubon sanctuary!

 

[Chlidonias]

True the effect would be quite stunning!
I wonder if its possible for them to perhaps import a few more it could kick start them to even more breeding!

Yes, flamingoes can still be imported into NZ as eggs.

 

[Chlidonias]

private individuals can import all the chickens, pigeons and exotic parrots they like, so long as they stump up the hard cash.

Parrots cannot be imported into Australia. There actually is a risk analysis in the works, but it is not yet finalised.

 

[Tafin]

Yes, flamingoes can still be imported into NZ as eggs.

Wow, is that just flamingos or all bird eggs? Either way I don't know why none of New Zealand's Zoos don't bring in some fertile Flamingo eggs and hatch them.

 

[Zorro]

Wow, is that just flamingos or all bird eggs? Either way I don't know why none of New Zealand's Zoos don't bring in some fertile Flamingo eggs and hatch them.

I believe the main reason is the cost I believe its quite expensive to go through the whole process from start to finish!

 

[Chlidonias]

Wow, is that just flamingos or all bird eggs? Either way I don't know why none of New Zealand's Zoos don't bring in some fertile Flamingo eggs and hatch them.

No, specifically for flamingoes.

 

[FBBird]

I seem to recall a race course around Miami in Florida that had Hundreds of Flamingos near the track, I dont know if they maintained them or bred them there but from what I can recall it appeared to be part of the race course!

Hialeah Racetrack. Possibly the first captive breeding. As far as I know they’re still there, maybe even free flying.