Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

July 26, 2012 - Jacksonville, Fl -

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announces the hatching of one of two Caribbean Flamingo eggs recently acquired from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.  The gender of the chick is not yet known.  This is the 13th animal to be hatched or born at the Zoo since May 31st and the first flamingo hatchling in Jacksonville Zoo’s recorded history.

“Though flamingos have been featured at the Jacksonville Zoo for nearly 50 years, there has never been a recorded hatching,” said Dan Maloney, Deputy Director of Conservation and Education for Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  “We are very excited to finally see a flamingo chick at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and hope to have many more chicks in the future as we build the flock’s numbers.”

The two eggs arrived in Jacksonville late at on Monday, July 16th.  The first egg “pipped,” or began hatching, at approximately 9:00 a.m. July 19th and was completely out of the egg just after 7:00 a.m. July 20th.  Zoo staff assisted the emergency of the chick that had become twisted inside the shell.  The second egg is in the Zoo’s incubator and is expected to hatch around July 28th.

Although the Jacksonville Zoo staff is very excited about its newest additions, they are closely monitoring the egg and the chick until they get through these early critical stages of life.  The Zoo brought in the new eggs to even out the ratio of males and females, which will hopefully increase the flock’s numbers and productivity.

After both chicks are well established, they will go through a process of introduction to the Zoo’s existing flock.  During the first phase of the introduction, the chicks will live in a small “howdy” pen next to the flock’s nesting area at the flamingo exhibit.  It will be approximately eight weeks before they will be allowed to spend long periods of time next to the flock, however, there will be plenty of photo opportunities for Zoo guests throughout the various stages of their life.

Flamingos are found primarily along the coast of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.  They are gregarious animals that travel in large flocks that pick up and move as feeding grounds flood or dry out.  When the eggs they lay hatch, the chicks have white feathers that turn gray and later take their pink color from aqueous bacteria and beta-carotene obtained from their food. 

About the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
For nearly a century, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences in a caring environment. Started in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens now has more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals. It has won national acclaim for its South American Range of the Jaguar exhibit and regional, state and local awards for its botanical gardens. The Jacksonville Zoo is a nonprofit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is open year-round, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Christmas day, and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to http://www.jacksonvillezoo.org.