Khon kaen: Khon Kaen Zoo has once again successfully bred wild animals, after five chicks of a great flamingo hatched from their eggs. The baby great flamingos are now starting to join the flock after their mother successfully laid and hatched five eggs between August 8th and 18th. The five chicks are under the close care of a team of veterinarians and animal caretakers. Monitoring their development reveals that the chicks are healthy and developing naturally.
According to Thai News Agency, Khon Kaen Zoo has 22 great flamingos, consisting of 9 males, 11 females, and 2 of unknown sex. Including 5 newborn chicks, the total number of great flamingos is 27. Khon Kaen Zoo has previously successfully bred flamingos, with two chicks born last year. This success in breeding large flamingos is a result of the close care and attention of the veterinary team and animal caretakers, who prioritize the animals' health, behavior, and environment, focusing on allowing them to live and exhibit their natural behaviors appropriately.
The Greater Flamingo is a water bird distinguished by its large body, long legs, long neck, and pale pink to reddish-pink plumage. It also has a uniquely curved beak. Newly hatched flamingos have soft, light gray-white feathers, straight beaks, and pinkish-gray legs. Adult flamingos weigh an average of 2-4 kilograms and have an average lifespan of about 30 years. Their main diet consists of shrimp larvae, plankton, and some types of algae.
Nesting and egg-laying behavior: Greater flamingos construct nests from a mixture of sand and clay, building truncated cone-shaped structures approximately 30-50 centimeters high and 30-40 centimeters wide. A small depression at the top is included for laying eggs. They exhibit colonial nesting behavior, typically laying only one egg per breeding season. Incubation takes approximately 28-32 days, with both parents taking turns incubating and closely guarding the nest.
Tourists can admire the five adorable baby great flamingos at the flamingo exhibit area in front of the zoo, Khon Kaen Zoo, Khao Suan Kwang District, Khon Kaen Province. The zoo is open daily from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Visitors can learn about the flamingo's life cycle, gregarious behavior, and natural care of its chicks in an ecotourism-focused environment.