Australia's last captive flamingo has died

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Australia’s last captive flamingo has been put to sleep at the Adelaide Zoo in South Australia, following age-related health issues. The flamingo, Chile, was in her late 60s and is believed to have been the oldest flamingo in captivity. Her former companion, Greater, died in 2014 at the age of at least 83. As there is a moratorium on the importation of flamingos , Australia may not see another captive flamingo for quite some time. There are six species of flamingo and, as might be expected from its name, Chile was a Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis). This large species is found in most parts of South America. Chicks are born grey and don’t develop their pink colouring until 2 to 3 years of age. A single egg is laid on a mound of mud. The Chilean flamingo is regarded as ‘near threatened’. The photo is from Wikimedia and shows Chilean flamingos in Argentina. Photo courtesy: Murray Foubister via Wikimedia Commons And did you know the flamingo has internal sex organs so it is impossible to determine the sex while the bird is alive, unless, I guess, you catch it laying an egg – or not.