Flamingo that escaped from Kansas zoo during storm spotted

WICHITA, Kan. — Considered one of two flamingos that escaped from a Kansas zoo throughout a storm 17 years in the past has been noticed on the coast of Texas, wildlife officers mentioned.

The Coastal Fisheries division of Texas Parks and Wildlife confirmed Tuesday to The Related Press that the African flamingo — generally known as No. 492 due to the quantity on its leg band — was captured on video shot March 10 by an environmental activist close to Port Lavaca, Texas, at Rhodes Level in Cox Bay. Officers have been in a position to make out the hen’s leg band on the video.

The hen and one other flamingo escaped from the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita on a stormy night time in June 2005. Workers had not but clipped the birds’ wings to forestall them from flying, which facilitated their escape.

Whereas the opposite flamingo was by no means seen once more, No. 492 has been noticed a number of occasions in Wisconsin, Louisiana and Texas, typically with different wild flamingos. Officers mentioned it had been a 12 months or two for the reason that hen was final seen in Texas.

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Zoo officers have by no means made plans to recapture No. 492, regardless of the sightings, saying there isn’t any simple method to take action with out disturbing different wildlife.

The escaped flamingos, identified for his or her distinctive pink feathers and lengthy legs and necks, have been born in Africa then shipped to the Kansas zoo in 2004 with 39 different flamingos.