Flamingo Lagoon Opens at Reid Park Zoo in Arizona

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: February 26, 2021 11:45 pm

A flock of flamingoes explore the new flamingo lagoon habitat at Reid Park Zoo

Photo Credit: Reid Park Zoo

Reid Park Zoo in Arizona, USA have unveiled their new Flamingo Lagoon habitat where guests can encounter a flock of Chilean flamingos. The vibrant pink birds now welcome guests as the first animals when you enter the zoo.

“The new habitat is absolutely beautiful, and exemplifies the ‘Bigger Spaces, Smiling Faces’ theme of the Zoo’s Master Plan,” said Nancy Kluge, Reid Park Zoo’s President & CEO.

A flock of flamingoes explore the new flamingo lagoon habitat at Reid Park Zoo

Photo Credit: Reid Park Zoo

This habitat is part of Phase 1 of the Reid Park Zoo’s 10-year Master Plan. It provides the flamingo flock with a habitat which has 50% more landmass and walkable water space. It also provides a range of mod-cons to make the flock thrive such as misters, a separate feeding pool, night house and an advanced water filtration system.

The habitat will help educate guests on the threats faced by wild flamingoes. A major threat to the species is mining for lithium.

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Reid Park Zoo are the co-leads of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Andean Highlands Flamingo Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program. This program supports research and conservation efforts to protect the three species of flamingo (Chilean, James’s and Andean) that live in the salt flats at elevations of up to 14,000 feet in the Andes mountains.

“Programs like Andean Highland Flamingo SAFE aim to first educate people about the focal species’ natural history and ranges. As people begin to learn more about our flamingos we want to share the identified threats facing the wild birds from the SAFE program and what we can all do to help save flamingos from extinction,” said Sue Tygielski, Director of Zoo Operations.

A close up image of the flamingoes which live at the Reid Park Zoo

Photo Credit: Reid Park Zoo

With the assistance of the Chilean National Zoo, the Andean Highland Flamingo SAFE has been monitoring the populations of South American flamingos. It is aiming to create better date on wetland use, migration patterns and the breeding cycle of this species.