Until earlier this month, the Slimbridge Wetland Center in the United Kingdom had the unique distinction of being the only facility to house all six of the world's flamingo species. While four of those species - the American, Chilean, greater, and lesser - are present in American zoos, two other species, the Andean and James's (or puna), both of South America's Andes Mountains, have never been commonly kept. Earlier this month, Mr. James, the last of the Slimbridge James's flamingos, passed away.
Mr. James's passing marks a loss, of course, for people who were simply interested in flamingos and wanted to see a unique species that they hadn't encountered before. But for those who actually knew and worked with him, his death also marks the loss of a unique individual. Such was his impact that he even was mentioned in a meeting in Parliament, and will forever be immortalized in the minutes as "the most marvelous Mr. James." Among those who knew him more personally was Dr. Paul Rose, a research associate affiliated with WWT Slimbridge who had known Mr. James for well over a decade. He wrote a nice tribute to his departed avian colleague, which serves to highlight the important role that zoo animals can have on the lives of those they encounter.
Pink birds in Parliament? The impact of animals in your care?
To quote Dr. Rose, "We must always remember that any and all of our animals can touch the lives of those who work directly with them, and that they have a wider impact too - across society more broadly... As our animals inspire us, so they inspire our visitors, and so this ripple grows until more and more are washed with the same love and gratitude for the natural world."
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