Nineteen years of management for <scp>P</scp>hoenicopteriformes in <scp>E</scp>uropean <scp>A</scp>ssociation of <scp>Z</scp>oos and <scp>A</scp>quaria institutions: the <scp>F</scp>abulous <scp>F</scp>lamingo <scp>S</scp>urveys and strategies to increase reproduction in captivity

Abstract

Flamingos are estimated to be present in at least two‐thirds of E uropean A ssociation of Z oos and A quaria ( EAZA ) institutions. In total, 8837 flamingos in 168 institutions, including 164 EAZA zoos and four W ildfowl &amp; W etlands T rust centres were reported as at 1 J anuary 2010. Around 93% (8214) of the flamingos reported were the three P hoenicopterus spp: G reater flamingo P hoenicopterus roseus , C aribbean flamingo P hoenicopterus ruber and C hilean flamingo P hoenicopterus chilensis . These three species are included in the EAZA C iconiiformes and P hoenicopteriformes R egional C ollection P lan ( RCP ), along with the L esser flamingo P hoeniconaias minor. All four species are managed in the lowest RCP category, ‘ M onitor by TAG ’, as efforts currently focus on broad‐scale issues at the zoo/group level. Answers to a survey demonstrated that EAZA zoos would like to hold many more flamingos than are currently available. The T axon A dvisory G roup has adopted 11 strategies to improve the conditions and breeding of flamingos in captivity. For example, to improve breeding results zoos are encouraged to have only a single flamingo species in an enclosure, to balance sex ratios in groups and to keep full‐flighted flamingos. Health problems as well as predator and trauma mortality are also discussed in this paper. The F abulous Flamingo Survey is being repeated at 5 year intervals in order to monitor progress and adjust strategies.