The Flamingo: A Story of Conservation and Success

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – It’s not just the food, relaxation, and ambience that make Baha Mar special, it’s also the resort’s commitment to conservation, including its care for a number of animals, including our very own national bird.

You’ve seen the beautiful creature since as early as first grade – the West Indian Flamingo.

While the majority of the world’s West Indian Flamingos live right here in The Bahamas, most can be found on Great Inagua, in protected parks managed by the Bahamas National Trust.

However, a few of these distinctive birds call paradise home, at Baha Mar’s Flamingo Encounter.

There are two flocks of flamingos on the property, the display flock and the ambassador flock.

We were taken to a small enclosure by Aviculture Specialist Arianne, where I met some of the feathered members of the ambassador flock.

These birds have a special job, as they’re trained for interactions with humans, with a special connection to the property, because they were hatched and raised here in The Bahamas.

Arianne – Aviculture Specialist, Baha Mar

“So they do all of our events, we have these meet and greets. We have a flamingo parade every morning, flamingo yoga, they get booked for weddings, cocktail appearance’s, birthday photo shoots. We have them here on property because they encompass Baha Mar three pillars community culture and conservation.”

They’re described as one of the most successful conservation stories in our country’s history.

Meanwhile, as these birds may look similar at first glance, each one is unique in its own way.

They’re identified by numbers, but many also have special names, like Baha Mar, named after the resort, and Lynden, named after the Bahamas’ first prime minister, Sir Lynden Pindling.

After learning all about the birds, we got the chance to feed them, first from cups filled with water, and then directly from our hands.

At first, it seemed a little intimidating, but it didn’t take long to get the hang of it.

Then came our Kodak moment.

Over on the other side of the property, you’ll find the more mature display flock.

These flamingos were brought to The Bahamas from a zoo in the United States, and they’ve now become part of the experience here at Baha Mar.

However, this experience is about more than just getting up close with these beautiful birds.

The flamingos and the tours also serve an important educational purpose, helping visitors learn more about the species and the importance of conservation.

Another important piece to their story is that proceeds from sales at the conservation center go toward conservation efforts at the Bahamas National Trust.

Arianne – Aviculture Specialist, Baha Mar

“Flamingos are not endangered, they are protected, however they are protected species, there’s a lot of rules and regulations around them because of their low numbers, even though their numbers have come back really well especially in the southern areas of The Bahamas. They’re still a protected species.”