Zoo welcomes first baby flamingo in almost a decade

For the first time in almost ten years, a Chilean flamingo chick has hatched at Edinburgh Zoo.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) announced the new chicklet on September 4.

The chick’s arrival marks the first hatching in nine years for the zoo’s breeding programme.

Lorna Hughes, birds and primates team leader at Edinburgh Zoo, said it’s “incredible” to see the parents taking care of their chick.

RZSS The chick’s arrival marks the first flamingo baby in nine years. RZSS

Although it’s still early, the chick is looking “strong every day”.

To maximise the chance of eggs successfully hatching, the wildlife conservation charity’s keepers temporarily remove them from the nest site and place them in an incubator.

RZSS The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland announced the chick hatched on September 4. RZSS

During incubation, the adult flamingos are provided with dummy eggs so they can continue their natural parenting behaviours without disruption.

Once the chicks begin to break through the eggshell, they are returned to the nests.

“Flamingo chicks develop quickly, doubling in weight within days, so we are already seeing our little one get bigger. Now we just need to keep everything crossed for the remaining eggs still in the incubator,” Ms Hughes added.

RZSS Once the chicks begin to break through the eggshell, they are returned to the nests. RZSS

With this arrival, Edinburgh Zoo’s flamingo flock now contains both its youngest and oldest residents.

From the newly hatched chick to Shrimpy, Louis and Rio, who are estimated to have hatched in 1961.

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