Posted on 06/20/2009 4:50:28 AM PDT by Daffynition
A pair of flamingo chicks at London Zoo have been left 'terrified' of the colour pink.
The birds, named Little and Large, developed the phobia after being fed using a pink sock puppet.
Zoo staff are now hoping they get over their aversion before developing their distinctive colour, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Keeper Alison Brown, 30, said: "To try to encourage Little to feed by himself we've been wearing a hand puppet which imitates adult flamingos, but unfortunately he was really terrified of the socks."
Young flamingos take up to a year to turn pink, after they shed their grey downing feathers, so Little and Large are not afraid of themselves or each other - so far.
Ms Brown added: "We'll just have to hope they get used to the colour pink, but I'm sure it won't be a problem. Once Little gets his own pink colour he'll be fine."
Large, at 800g, weighs considerably more than Little, who is just 584g, but Ms Brown is not concerned for the smaller chick.
"Little just needs to learn to eat by himself and then he'll start putting on weight and get as big as Large," she said.
I leave the area when I see men in pink too.
Maybe it was the growling noise the puppet made!!
What the hell is that.
I thought flamingos were basically white but took their color from what they eat. Isn’t there a racetrack (Hialeah?) that feeds its flamingos different dyes to get a multicolored flock?
Divine from “Pink Flamingos.”
LOL. One never forgets having seen Pink Flamingos. Its one of those days that kinda stands out in your life. Saw it 30+ years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday.
[Just kidding ... you are correct!]
Wild flamingos are pink because they eat carotene-containing brine shrimps (one species) or blue-green algae (another species). Lacking such food in zoos, they turn white unless fed caroteniferous substitutes--carrots, beets, or red peppers in the old days, or the additive canthaxanthin today.
“We’ll see who’s the filthiest person alive ! We’ll just see !”
I had that pic to go with the Divine/Babs Johnson “FReeper a$$holism awards” to the worst jerks and trolls on my FReeper page until the big guy ordered me to remove it. I rather miss it. :-(
ping
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