Young flamingos move home to meet new flock
- Image source, Drusillas Park
Image caption, The flamingo chicks will develop pink feathers like the rest of the adult flock when they are around two or three years old.
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If you have ever moved schools, you may know how these Chilean flamingos are feeling right now!
The long-legged birds are settling in and making new friends having moved from their previous home in Longleat to a zoo in Sussex.
The group includes four fluffy, grey and white chicks who hatched earlier this year.
The keepers at Drusillas Park say they are already bonding with the existing flamingo flock.
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It’s hoped that the new birds will give the existing flamingo group a boost and encourage natural breeding behaviours.
The team say this is important for Chilean flamingos because they are classed as ‘near threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature 'red list'.
Zoo Manager, Mark Kenward said, “Welcoming 10 new Chilean flamingos has allowed us to achieve a more balanced ratio of male and female birds at Drusillas.
"This is exciting because it enhances our potential to successfully breed this stunning species".
The youngsters are integrating and learning from the more mature birds in the flock - the eldest being a female called Anna, who is 42 years old!