A Growing Flamboyance

This cute fluffy bundle is one of several flamingo chicks born this summer.

Longleat is experiencing a baby boom with a number of new arrivals from rare Amur tiger cubs to a critically endangered Cotton Top Tamarin monkey plus an endangered Secretary Bird chick. There have also been two Californian sea lion pups and exciting developments with the native wildlife with beaver kits recently caught on camera.

Darren Beasley, head of animal operations, said: “2024 is proving to be an exciting year for new arrivals and the flamingo chicks are fairly easy for people to see as they tour the Safari Park. It’s interesting to see they are white/grey initially but as they grow and develop, they will become pink as the colour comes through from their diet. They eat plants, shrimp and algae which contain a red-orange pigment which turns their feathers, legs and beaks pink.”