Edinburgh Zoo welcomes first flamingo chick in nine years

For the first time in almost ten years, a Chilean flamingo chick has hatched at Edinburgh Zoo. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) says the chick hatched on 4 September 2025, marking a major milestone in the zoo’s breeding programme.

To maximise the chance of eggs successfully hatching, the wildlife conservation charity’s keepers temporarily remove them from the nest site and place them in incubators. During incubation, the adult flamingos are provided with dummy eggs so they can continue their natural parenting behaviours without disruption. Once the chicks begin to break through the eggshell they are returned to the nests.

Lorna Hughes, birds and primates team leader at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “We have been caring for this flock for years and to see a chick hatching and being taken care of by its parents is just incredible.

“It is still early, but the chick is looking stronger every day so we are hopeful they will grow nice and healthy. Flamingo chicks develop quickly, doubling in weight within days, so we are already seeing our little one get bigger. Now we just need to keep everything crossed for the remaining eggs still in the incubator.”

With this arrival, Edinburgh Zoo’s flamingo flock now contains both its youngest and oldest residents. From the newly hatched chick to Shrimpy, Louis and Rio, who are estimated to have hatched in 1961.

Book online and save