Naples Zoo Unveils 7 New Flamingos
Photo by DanitaDelimont/Shutterstock.com
If you’re a flamingo fan living near Naples or have a trip booked to Southwest Florida this winter, you’re in for a real treat!
The Naples Zoo is now home to seven new American flamingos, expanding the zoo’s flamboyance from 12 to 19.
This is big news, not just for flamingo lovers in the region and those who love to visit Florida for its sunshine, but also for the zoo itself and the flamingos already living at the Naples Zoo. The ideal size of a flamingo flamboyance for breeding and socializing is 40, according to a statement released by the zoo. With 19 now in the crew, the zoo is almost halfway there.
“Flamingos are highly social birds, and flock size plays a big role in their behavior and long-term success,” Naples Zoo Staff Veterinarian Dr. Kelsie Stovall said in a release. “This new group not only strengthens the social structure of our flock but also moves us closer to establishing a sustainable breeding flock in the future.”
The fresh flamingos range in age, with most of them on the younger side between 1 and 3 years old. The Naples Zoo did add some experience to its flock with the introduction of a 16-year-old as well - someone has to set the spry ones straight! Two of the seven flamingos are male, and the other five are female, including the 16-year-old.
These additions are the latest update to the zoo’s recent unveiling of its flamingo exhibit in October. The enclosure is located near the zoo’s entrance, placing the fabulous flamingo front and center.
“Naples Zoo has such a rich history, and we really wanted to celebrate Old Florida and celebrate that architecture,” Naples Zoo CEO Jack Mulvena said at the exhibit’s announcement in October. “There is no better animal than flamingos to do that, and so we really wanted to add flamingos to the collection. We, over time, will be increasing the flock to the point that we can begin breeding, which will be important to the sustainability of the population.”
The Naples Zoo sourced its latest influx of flamingos from the Fort Worth Zoo, a zoo known for flamingos in its own right. The Texas zoo has a healthy habitat of flamingos and hosts “the most successful breeding colony of lesser flamingos in the world” and has reared chicks since 2001, according to its website. The first 12 flamingos to arrive at the Naples Zoo also came from the Fort Worth Zoo.
With this move to bolster its flamingo population and prominence, the Naples Zoo becomes a great place to drink in the majesty of the fabulous fowl. There are plenty of other places across the United States to enjoy these glorious creatures, so don’t feel left out if Naples isn’t a realistic reach for you. From San Diego to Omaha and back to Florida, the options are open for American flamingo fans!
