Caribbean flamingo

Facts

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

Facts about this animal

The Caribbean flamingo has a total length of about 120 cm. The male flamingo is somewhat larger than the female. The plumage of adult flamingos is rosy vermilion to pinkish salmon. The deepest colour is on the neck and the wing-coverts. The primary feathers are black, but are often concealed when the wings are folded. The bill is big and curved downwards. The botton third is black in colour, the remainder part is pale yellow/ivory. The eyes are yellow. Juveniles are mostly greyish with a tinge of pink on the underparts and the wings.

Did you know?
that most populations require a large colony for successful breeding? This is a problem for breeding flamingos in zoos. However, small groups have been tricked into displaying breeding activity by using mirrors.

Factsheet
Class	AVES
Order	CICONIIFORMES
Suborder	PHOENICOPTERI
Family	PHOENICOPTERIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Phoenicopterus ruber
Name (English)	Caribbean flamingo
Name (French)	Flamant de Cuba
Name (German)	Kubaflamingo
Name (Spanish)	Flamenco del Caribe
CITES Status	Appendix II
CMS Status	Appendix II

Photo Copyright by
Martin Pettitt

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Along the north coasts of South America and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Another population is located along the north-eastern rim of the Caribbean in the Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti and the Turks and caicos Islands. The smallest population occur in the Galapagos.
Habitat	Saline lagoons, mudflats, shallow brackish coastal or inland lakes
Wild population	Not threatened, but population has declined markedly due to pollution, loss of habitat through global warming and development, and hunting. Total population is estimated 80'000 - 90'000 birds.
Zoo population	4041 reported to ISIS (2007)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 17 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

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Photo Copyright by
Martin Pettitt

Why do zoos keep this animal

The Caribbean flamingo is not a threatened species, and zoos do not operate coordinated ex situ breeding programmes. Caribbean flamingos are thus primarily kept for educational purposes, e.g. because of their social behaviour, their unique way of feeding, or the role carotenoides play for plumage colouration. Flamingos are also excellent ambassador species for wetland conservation.

How this animal should be kept

Outdoor enclosures should be built with the maximum desired flock size in mind. For 20 adults, an enclosure of at least 100 m² land and 20 m² water surface is required. The land part must be enlarged by 5 m², the pool by 0.5 m² for each additional adult.

Water should be able to flow freely in all areas of the pool to avoid any possible buildups of botulism. Also, this area should be large enough to allow the flock to engage in any courtship displays. A nesting area should be large enough to accommodate the entire flock, with room to allow for potential aggression. A recommended size for a nesting area is 0.9 m² per bird. Always allow enough space to accommodate offspring and any future acquisitions.

Feeding areas separate from the pool or main water source, with their own drainage system and water source should be set aside. There should be access from all sides of the feeding area or pool to prevent aggression.

A well-maintained grass cover is probably the best substrate for a flamingo enclosure. Where prevailing winds are common, windbreaks should be added to prevent even the pinioned birds from taking short flights. Enclosure orientation should also be looked at in these cases to eliminate long runs into the wind. If possible, also include a built-in catching and holding area.

Predators can be a problem in such a small, enclosed area and it is recommended that this be taken into consideration. Some methods of preventing depredation include the use of electric wire on the top of the fence and a mesh ceiling to prevent predator access to the area.

In cold and temperate climates, a frost free wintering area is required offering at least 0.5 m² land and and 0.5 m² water surface per bird. It is not recommended to mix flamingos with any mammal species, especially hoof stock. Miximg flamingos with non-aggressive waterfowl, such as smaller ducks and ibises is possible but special consideration should be made to separate feeding areas for species other than flamingos as there have been several incidences of flamingos becoming impacted on the sand and grit used in various waterfowl diets.

A variety of commercially available, grain-based diets containing 20 to 40% protein, developed using the nutrient requirements of poultry and duck species, have proven successful for maintenance, growth, and reproduction of flamingos in captivity and should be provided as the staple diet. In the absence of organisms occurring naturally in the flamingos’ pool, possible enrichment items could include a range of small whole prey such as krill, copepods, and aquatic insect larvae to duckweed (Lemna sp.), chopped greens, and algae species. Many zoos use canthaxanthin as a pigment added to the diet.