The Paignton Zoo has a lot to celebrate after their first successful Flamingo egg hatching since 2018, thanks to a same-sex couple.
On August 12, 2024, the Paignton Zoo shared an update on its Flamingos and a new chick in the mix. Take a look!
View the original article to see embedded media.
The U.K. zoo posted an update to Instagram, including details on its new Flamingo chick and several photos of the very happy family.
Related: Why Are Flamingos Pink? The Flocking—Uh, Shocking—Reason Flamingos Turn Pink
"Have you seen our adorable little cotton balls yet?" the zoo began their social post.
"Our flamingo chicks are the first we’ve had since 2018… and the first time we’ve ever seen a same-sex pair successfully hatch and raise a chick together!"
Yes, the parents of the new little cotton ball are two male Flamingos named Arthur and Curtis, who have been in a same-sex pairing for a while.
But since they're both males and don't lay eggs, the zoo isn't totally sure how Arthur and Curtis came to care for the egg until it hatched, and now caring for the chick. But they have a theory.
"Now, we aren’t entirely sure how the same-sex parenting has come about biologically speaking (although it is a known phenomenon in Chilean flamingos as well as other bird flocks!)," the zoo explains. "The most likely scenario is that the egg was abandoned by another couple, so Curtis and Arthur have ‘adopted’ it."
The zoo is thrilled this sweet baby successfully hatched, and they're hopeful that more will join the zoo family in the next little while.
"The success of this year’s breeding program so far is a testament to the skill and hard work put in by our Bird Team," the zoo shared.
"While there are currently only a handful of chicks on the island, there are still plenty of eggs incubating. We are hopeful that we may see more eggs hatch over the coming days and weeks."
Interesting Facts About Flamingos
Flamingos are known for their large size, which is mostly made up of legs, and their pink color. But there's a lot more to this cool animal than just their feather color that makes them extra fascinating.
According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute , Flamingos get their pink color from the food that they eat, which is why the adorable little chicks are white.
Flamingos mainly eat brine shrimp, and since brine shrimp eat microscopic algae, which produces red-colored, natural red, yellow, or orange pigments called carotenoids. When the Flamingos eat the brine shrimp, their body metabolizes the shrimp, and the pigments turn their feathers pink.
Many people think Flamingo's knees bend backward, but the zoo says that we're not looking at their knee joints.
"What looks like a Flamingo's knee is really its ankle joint," the site explains. "A Flamingo’s knees are located higher up the legs, hidden by the body and feathers. Confused? Think of a Flamingo as standing on tiptoe. When the leg bends, it’s the ankle you see hinging."
We're excited to watch Curtis and Arthur on their parenting journey and watch the little chick grow.
Most Popular
Comments / 0