Flamingos...gone with the wind..

Tuesday May 3, 2005
Falling tree kills 14 Malacca Zoo flamingos

STORY AND PICTURE BY THOMAS TAN
MALACCA: Two thirds of the flamingo population at the Malacca Zoo were killed by a falling tree during strong winds on Sunday evening.

The branches of the 13m-tall angsana tree in the Mini Safari compound fell within the birds' enclosure near the zoo’s amphitheatre, killing 13 of the 21 flamingos, which were all from Tanzania.

Jason Loh of Animal Adventure, the company that trains the birds for the animal show at the zoo, said the incident happened between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.

“Two other flamingos were badly injured – one of which died today (yesterday),'' he said, adding that zoo workers were out for dinner at the time of the incident.


CRUSHED: The birds struck dead by fallen branches at the zoo in Malacca on Sunday.

Loh, who estimated the dead birds to be worth about RM60,000, said zoo workers took two-and-a-half hours to clear the branches from the enclosure and remove the dead and injured birds.

“The daily bird presentation at the zoo will be carried out as usual but there will not be a flamingo show for now,” he said, adding that there was a ban on the import of birds, including flamingos, due to the bird flu scare.

Two other trees were also uprooted by the strong winds. One fell on the bear enclosure, but none of the animals was injured.

The other tree fell near Loh's office.

The 21 flamingos were brought to the zoo in December 2003 and made their debut at the bird show in March 2004.

Scientifically known as Phoenicopterus ruber, the pink-coloured birds are found in Africa, Europe, Asia and South America.



This incident happened after we visited the Afarmosa Animal World. I wonder if it's those flamingos which performed on the Bird Show. :S I witnessed their last show...