The Chilean flamingo is said to be looking stronger every day.

The chick is the first to be welcomed to the flock in almost a decade. 

Keepers at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo are celebrating the hatching of a Chilean flamingo chick.

The arrival is special; not only because it is the first in almost nine years, but also because it marks a significant step in the Zoo’s breeding programme.

Lorna Hughes, birds and primates team leader at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “We have been caring for this flock for years and to see a chick hatching and being taken care of by its parents is just incredible. “

To improve the chance of eggs successfully hatching, keepers at the wildlife charity temporarily removed them from the nest and placed them in incubators. 

The adult flamingos are given dummy eggs during this time so they can continue natural parenting behaviours without disruption. As soon as the chicks begin to break through the eggshell, they are returned to the nest.

Lorna continued: “It is still early, but the chick is looking stronger every day so we are hopeful they will grow nice and healthy.

“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.”

Habitat loss from mining, water diversion and pollution, and human disturbance has led to the endangerment of chilean flamingos in the wild. The species is currently listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

The new arrival brings the total number of flamingos in Edinburgh Zoo’s flock to four, including the new chick and Shrimpy, Louis, and Rio, who are estimated to have hatched in 1961.

Image (C) RZSS Edinburgh Zoo.