They are the most photographed animals at Dudley Zoo and have become an icon of the town’s attraction.
Now one of the zoo’s flamingoes is celebrating her 50th birthday. Francesca the Flamingo has been among the zoo’s residents welcoming visitors to the attraction since 1958.
Zoo-keepers, Lesley Lewis and Ben Vanes were on hand to pop the cork in celebration of the golden milestone, but Francesca was more interested in her next meal.
Chief executive Peter Suddock said: “The flamingoes really are an icon of the zoo and have been a part of the collection since the attraction opened 70-years ago.” Mr Suddock said flamingoes can live up to 60 years of age and it was down to the care and good treatment of the animals that Francesca had lived so long.
He said: “They are the first thing people see when they come into the zoo and always have been.
“I think there are probably thousands of pictures of them in photo albums.”
The flamingoes at Dudley Zoo retain their colour because of a carotene supplement added to their diet.
Francesca is now very much the OAP of the group at Dudley Zoo, with many new flamingoes arriving over the years. The Flamingoes at Dudley Zoo as with those in the wild, can often be seen standing on one leg. The reason for this behaviour is not fully known. One common theory is that tucking one leg beneath the body may conserve body heat.
It is often also suggested that this is done in part to keep the legs from getting wet.
As well as standing in the water, flamingos may stamp their webbed feet in the mud to stir up food from the bottom.
Other long term residents of Dudley Zoo include Inca and Gretel the Asiatic Black Bears, both in their 20s.
Anyone can get up close and personal with the animals at the zoo by becoming a keeper for the day at the attraction.
They discover what goes on behind the scenes at the 40-acre site, helping staff with their daily duties. Details are available at dudleyzoo. org.uk or on 01384 215313.
Share this article:
What are these?