Flamingo mzee zaidi duniani afariki dunia

Staff at Adelaide Zoo were in mourning Friday after the world's oldest flamingo, and their oldest resident, died aged 83.

The flamingo, known as "Greater" after his species, was put to sleep on Thursday due to complications associated with old age, having arrived at the zoo in 1933.

Greater is survived by long-term friend Chilly - a Chilean flamingo - who is in his 60s and will be monitored to see how he reacts to the death.

"Greater is best known for being the world's oldest flamingo and the last greater flamingo to have resided in Australia," Zoos South Australia chief executive Elaine Bensted said.

Zoos SA chief executive Elaine Bensted said keepers made the decision to end Greater's life after complications from arthritis and old age.


"In the last week his health really took a turn for the worse," she said,


"In discussions with his keeping staff- who he's been cared by for many, many years - and the veterinary team, we said really the only humane thing to do was to peacefully put him to sleep.


"We're already being overwhelmed with feedback and comments just about, I guess, the memories that people have of Greater and how much walking past the ponds will be sad for a lot of people."


The flamingo was badly beaten by a group of teenagers in 2008 in an attack that horrified zoo staff and the visiting public.


Ms Bensted said the Adelaide Zoo was now considering a memorial to the bird.

The flamingo known as Greater had lived at the Adelaide Zoo since 1933. (Zoos SA)

"Although this is an extremely sad loss for us all, it was the right thing to do.

"There was no additional medical treatment that would have improved Greater's quality of life."

Zoo staff said records showed another flamingo was still alive aged 67, believed to be in a South American zoo. No bird in the wild would live so long, due to predators and lack of medical attention.

While flamingos can live for decades in captivity, they only have a lifespan of about 25 years in the wild.

Greater, seen here with good friend Chilly (foreground), in 2008 

Known as Greater, the flamingo - whose sex is unknown - arrived at the zoo in 1933 but records are not clear whether it came from Cairo or Hamburg Zoo.

"Greater is best known for being the world's oldest flamingo and the last greater flamingo to have resided in Australia," chief executive Elaine Bensted said.

"When Greater's physical health started to deteriorate last year, our veterinary team began a course of anti-inflammatory pain medication to ensure Greater's comfort.

"Greater responded well to treatment and remarkably survived the cold winter."

But the flamingo took a turn for the worse this week when it was decided to humanely put it to sleep.

"Although this is an extremely sad loss for us all, it was the right thing to do," Ms Bensted said, adding there was no more treatment that would have improved Greater's life.

A memorial to Greater, who was almost blind, may be erected near the heritage listed flamingo pond.
Greater is survived by Chilly, a Chilean flamingo, who is now Australia's only remaining flamingo.

  AFP, http://www.theaustralian.com.au