Clinical evaluation of foot lesions in flamingos (Phoenicopteriformes)

Flamingos are one of the most widely kept bird species in zoos around the world and have been attracting people for years with their spectacular morphology. Underneath its delicate appearance lies an extremely powerful fighter. Although they have been a popular subject of study among zoologists and ornithologists for many years, and although zoos in Europe have standardized care conditions for these birds, foot health is still a widespread and important welfare problem due to the suboptimal level of basic care conditions such as floor selection (enclosure design), nutrition, hygiene conditions in many zoos. In addition, foot health has become even more of a concern in recent years due to long periods of confinement due to mandatory confinement requirements imposed by governments as a precaution against rising Avian Influenza cases. Various studies identified foot lesions as the primary or secondary cause in 95% of flamingo euthanasia cases. In this study, a group of great flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus), American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) and lesser flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor), which have been living in Faruk Yalçın Zoo in Kocaeli region for more than 20 years, was examined to examine the effects of current care conditions on foot health and the lesions observed were classified using previously defined and standardized methods. Foot sole examination, photography, infrared thermographic imaging and radiographic imaging were used for classification. This study is the first study on the health of flamingos living in zoos in Turkey and its aim is to emphasize the importance of keeping the care conditions at an optimal level and regular monitoring of foot health in flamingos kept under human care. The data obtained will be added to the data pool obtained from studies conducted in Europe and the USA and will contribute to positive developments that can be made for the welfare of these animals in the future.