Flamingoes in Pakistan

Flamingoes are beautiful birds that are also associated with the mythological bird, phoenix. Their thin, long legs, elongated curvy neck and pink plumage are fascinating. It is astounding how they wade through water with their beaks submerged. This curved beak sieves water to collect tiny pieces of food such as algae, which is also their very beauty secret. The ‘carotenoids’ in algae adorn them with the pink plumage. Interestingly, flamingoes are born grey and gradually become pink because of the food. If we eat more watermelons and carrots, we will also show the natural blush! Ladies, we should take inspiration from the wildlife.

There is an Argentinian folktale of flamingoes: animals of the forest had arranged a ball and all the animals had a new dress but the flamingoes, which were white at that time. The flamingoes were sad that they did not have any dress. So, they went to the wise owl that was well known all around the forest for her dressmaking skills. She made lovely striped trousers for them and the flamingoes looked very handsome. At the ball, all the animals were ecstatic to see the flamingoes, but snakes were anxious as it turns out that those trousers were made out of snake skin… oops… no wonder because owls prey on snakes. Unable to control their rage, the snakes bit the flamingoes and the poor flamingoes ran to the lake to sooth themselves. Ever since, they don’t go out of the lake because only the saltwater can keep the pain caused by the bites away, which left their legs red and their feathers pink.

There are probably not many who would know of flamingoes’ existence in Pakistan. We have two species in Pakistan and a small flock of nine Greater flamingoes was sighted at Khabekki Lake in April this year. The lake is located in Soon Valley within the Salt Range — just a 45-minute drive from the Kallar Kahar exit of the motorway between Lahore and Islamabad. There was no recent record of the flamingo from Khabekki Lake, although their existence has been frequently reported from the Ucchali Lake, another lake little ahead of Khabekki Lake. In January 2012, Jamshed Chaudhry, a colleague, recorded 27 flamingoes. Another colleague, Zahoor Salmi, reported 126 in February 2013 and this flock stayed there till January 2014 until their illegal trapping started. This small population needs protection. Tom Roberts, a British naturalist, had recorded five flamingoes at Khabekki and 200 at Uchalli Lake in 1981. Although it is encouraging to record flamingoes at Khabekki again, unfortunately, there was none at Ucchalli Lake. A boatman at Uchalli Lake said that last year, he rescued two flamingoes with broken legs after a trapping attempt.

Trapping flamingos and the reduction in their group size is detrimental to their breeding. Flamingoes breed in a large flock as they feel safe and their hormones synchronise. This is why zoos are able to breed flamingoes successfully after they put up a number of mirrors. The reflection makes them feels as if they are in a larger group.

Breeding of flamingoes has been reported from Pakistan in the past. They have shown preference to breed in alkaline lakes and coastal lagoons — the Ucchali Lake is an alkaline lake. In Pakistan, flamingoes are trapped and usually presented to ‘influentials’ and if you ever see flamingoes in a private facility, they are likely to be trapped — and it is illegal to keep them… so, at least question how this came about!

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2014.

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