Flamingos who won’t think pink
Thursday 18 June 2009
Two baby flamingos are causing zookeepers problems at ZSL London Zoo…because they don’t like the colour pink.
© ZSL
Even though flamingos don’t see colours like people, Little and Large, who are being hand reared by keepers, are not fans of a certain shade of pink.
Keepers found that the fluffy white chicks, who were given their names because one is much bigger than the other, don’t like flamingo pink after introducing them to a pink sock puppet.
Feathers flew when Little, who weighs 420g and is miniscule compared to her 620g companion Large, was brought beak to beak with the pink flamingo puppet in a bid to encourage her to eat solid foods.
The cute chicks have since refused to have anything to do with the colour pink - which could be a problem when they move into the flamingo pool.
Keeper, Alison Brown, who has taken the youngsters under her wing, says: “They just don’t seem to like the colour. Birds see in different colour spectrums than humans – so there’s no logical reason for them not liking pink.”
“We are hoping to get them used to it before they turn pink themselves - else they will be in for a shock!”
Keepers will be getting the flamingos feet wet for the first time on Thursday morning – using a specially sourced yellow tray which they can splash about in.
