Same-sex flamingo dads raise chick at San Diego Zoo

In the United States, at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, two male flamingos have become first-time fathers after successfully hatching a chick. Earlier this year, the flamingo pair was given a fake egg to care for, which helped them demonstrate their parenting abilities. Impressed by their nurturing skills, wildlife specialists provided them with a real, fertile egg. The chick, a lesser flamingo, was born late last month and is currently thriving under the care of its foster dads, who are both in their 40s. The flamingo dads have been feeding their chick with crop milk, a nutrient-rich substance produced in their upper digestive tract. Interestingly, both male and female flamingos can feed the chick this way, and even non-parent flamingos can act as foster feeders. The chick's begging calls stimulate the secretion of this milk, ensuring it receives adequate nourishment. As the flamingos care for their chick, their plumage may temporarily lose vibrancy, appearing pale pink or white due to the demands of feeding. This phenomenon is not unique to flamingos; other bird species, such as vultures and penguins, have also exhibited same-sex parenting behaviors. This occurrence highlights the adaptability and nurturing instincts of flamingos, as well as the broader phenomenon of same-sex parenting in the animal kingdom, which has been observed in various bird species worldwide.