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Shock over bashing of rarest flamingo » Adelaide Zoo

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  #16
Old 31-10-2008
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Originally Posted by Ara View Post
It is assumed he was a 1933 bird, but there's no way of knowing. He could be even older.
It is a pity Thylacines weren't so long lived- otherwise something could have been done for the last ones in Hobart Zoo perhaps.
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  #17
Old 31-10-2008
No, he is the last Greater flamingo in Australia. His friend is a Chilean flamingo, who arrived in Australia in 1948.
80 Chilean flamingos were brought in by Taronga in 1948. Four of those were given to Adelaide.
There are just two of those 80 left; one at Taronga and one at Adelaide.
A total ban on bird importation in 1952 meant no more flamingos can be brought in.
There are now just one Greater flamingo and two Chilean flamingos left in Australia. When they die; thats it! All over!
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  #18
Old 31-10-2008
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Originally Posted by Ara View Post
No, he is the last Greater flamingo in Australia. His friend is a Chilean flamingo, who arrived in Australia in 1948.
80 Chilean flamingos were brought in by Taronga in 1948. Four of those were given to Adelaide.
There are just two of those 80 left; one at Taronga and one at Adelaide.
A total ban on bird importation in 1952 meant no more flamingos can be brought in.
There are now just one Greater flamingo and two Chilean flamingos left in Australia. When they die; thats it! All over!
Ara did they ever breed here in Aust?
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  #19
Old 01-11-2008
Bashed flamingo back with mate in Adelaide zoo | The Australian
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THE flamingo that was bashed at Adelaide Zoo returned to its enclosure yesterday, still unsteady on its legs but otherwise on the way to recovery.

The half-blind greater flamingo, one of the oldest in the world at over 70 years of age, was beaten around the head and beak during an attack on Wednesday that provoked public outrage. Four youths, aged 17 to 19, have been charged by police with animal cruelty.

Greater, as the injured flamingo is known, was welcomed back by its "other half", a Chilean flamingo that has been its constant companion for the past half-century. The birds' handlers feared the Chilean would have gone into decline without its friend.

"I think it's very important they are back together. You can hear them calling to each other and that just shows that the bond is still there," senior birdkeeper Brett Backhouse said. "They feed off each other a lot. Yesterday, we were saying that they were very quiet, but they are talking to each other now and you could probably call that happiness."

Family First state MP Dennis Hood said juveniles accused of violent crimes should be "named and shamed" rather than have their identities shielded by the courts.

The flamingos are so docile they linger at the edge of their open enclosure, where they can be photographed.

Their handlers say they do not know whether the bashing of Greater will cause the birds to keep their distance from visitors.

Greater arrived at the zoo in the 1930s, followed by the Chilean a decade later, and they are among the zoo's top drawcards.
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  #20
Old 01-11-2008
The television news last night showed footage of the Flamingo as he once more went into his usual enclosure and sporting a few bruises and sores. His companion is still well and truly alive and they look after each other. I understand that the victim is blind (in one eye I think) and the other Flamingo is deaf.

My most recent visit to Adelaide zoo was a few days before the incident. Here is a link to my blog showing a photo I took then:
Flamingo bashed at Adelaide Zoo
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  #21
Old 02-11-2008
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Originally Posted by Ara View Post
A bit more on the history of this bird; he is the last of a total of 51 which were imported by Adelaide before the ban came into place. (Last importation was 1933.)
Most of them didn't last too long. By 1941 there were only 2 left. I don't know when the other one died, but it was still alive and healthy in 1978.
There was definitely more than two past 1941, as I have a photo of my first visit in 1979 of at least three individuals. Cannot quite tell which species however.
Last edited by tetrapod; 02-11-2008 at 04:01 AM.. Reason: extra info
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  #22
Old 02-11-2008
In 1979 there would have been two Greater and two Chileans, four flamingos in all.
There are now two.(One Greater and one Chilean.)

From what I can determine, flamingos have never been successfully bred in Australia.
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  #23
Old 02-11-2008
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Originally Posted by Ara View Post
In 1979 there would have been two Greater and two Chileans, four flamingos in all.
There are now two.(One Greater and one Chilean.)

From what I can determine, flamingos have never been successfully bred in Australia.

Awhile back Sydney zoo introduced alot of mirrors into the flamingo enclosure. It was a very unusual sight. It was aparentley to make the birds think there were allot more of them and stimulate breeding. Without success.

Butt a great effort
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  #24
Old 03-11-2008
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Awhile back Sydney zoo introduced alot of mirrors into the flamingo enclosure. It was a very unusual sight. It was aparentley to make the birds think there were allot more of them and stimulate breeding. Without success.

Butt a great effort
Maybe a case of to little to late
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  #25
Old 03-11-2008
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Originally Posted by zooman View Post
Awhile back Sydney zoo introduced alot of mirrors into the flamingo enclosure. It was a very unusual sight. It was aparentley to make the birds think there were allot more of them and stimulate breeding. Without success.

Butt a great effort
That was back in the 80's. If I remember rightly, after the introdction of the mirrors ther was some nest building activity and I think one egg, which wasn't fertile. (I know there was nesting activity, but don't quote me on the egg).



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