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198 Hand-Rearing Birds

Introduction­to the Colony
Hand‐reared chicks should be introduced to the zoological colony in open enclosures after they
reach 3 months of age and are banded with an identification number. Chicks will continue to grow,
but will be large enough to defend themselves against aggression from other flamingos and small
predators. Ideally, chicks should be introduced as a group to reduce the attention on an individual
and the chicks can crèche. There is safety in numbers. If introducing a group of chicks to the habi-
tat, it is best to do this in the morning when they can be monitored over the rest of the day. The
introduction will likely be successful if they are fully weaned, adjusted to ambient temperatures,
and are able to recognize available food sources. If a single juvenile is introduced, it is advisable to
only introduce it early in the day so that it can be carefully monitored. It may be necessary to pull
the juvenile back for a few nights before it fully integrates into the flock. All chicks should be visu-
ally monitored to make sure that they are eating and behaving normally.

Wild Release
The same principles should be applied to flamingos returned to wild colonies. Many scientific ref-
erences discuss hard versus soft release for birds and other animals. Flamingos should be released
using a “hard release” technique. The IUCN Conservation Translocation Specialist Group recom-
mends health screening and quarantine prior to wild reintroductions (IUCN/SSC 2013). Taxa spe-
cific guidelines should be referenced and followed prior to release of the birds. Body condition and
weight, feather condition, behavior, and overall physical health are evaluated by a veterinarian in
addition to the recommended health screening prior to release. Once flamingos meet established
release criteria they should be transported as close to the colony as possible. Flamingos will join
the colony once they can see and hear the other birds. Juveniles should be released as close to the
wild crèche as possible. Soft release is not recommended for flamingos.

­ Acknowledgments

Thank you to Sherry Branch, Stephanie Costelow, Mike Mace, Christy Simeone, and past and pre-
sent IUCN Specialist Group, AZA, and EAZA TAG members that have shared their knowledge and
experiences to build upon and continue to improve animal care standards. And many thanks to the
institutions who agreed to share their records and the individuals who painstakingly compiled the
data. They are Shelly Collinsworth at Fort Worth Zoo, Justin Brackett at SeaWorld California, and
Rose Legato at Los Angeles Zoo.

­ Recommended­Reading

The Flamingo Husbandry Guidelines compilation details many aspects of general flamingo care
and rearing (Brown and King 2001). Some information has been updated since 2001; however, the
information contained in the husbandry guidelines was written and compiled by the top experts in
flamingo care and husbandry and continues to be an excellent source of information. For additional
information, contact current European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) or Association of
Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Flamingo Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) chairs for current contacts in
flamingo care at www.eaza.net or www.aza.org.