In the heart of the Atacama Desert, scientists are studying Andean flamingos to aid in their conservation. The team from the National Zoo is working in the National Flamingo Reserve, tagging flamingos with satellite transmitters.
This project aims to understand the flamingos' flight patterns, speed, and migratory routes. This week, researchers successfully tagged four flamingos, bringing the total to 24 monitored birds. This is a record for South American studies of this kind.
The project is a collaboration between Filantropía Cortés Solari, the National Zoo of Parquemet, and the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The goal is to protect these birds and their fragile ecosystem. The flamingos face threats from lithium mining, climate change, and unregulated tourism.
Capturing the flamingos involves setting up nylon traps in the mud. Vets then check the birds' health, testing for diseases like avian flu. The transmitters weigh less than 10% of the flamingo's body weight and are solar-powered.
The satellite tracking has identified nearly 100 key conservation sites, including areas in Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina. This data helps inform conservation efforts and public policies. The challenge now is to create international conservation actions for the flamingos.
The project also focuses on community engagement and education. The aim is to promote responsible tourism and environmental stewardship. The scientists hope to work with other countries to protect the flamingos across their migratory routes.