Baby flamingos hatch on Bank Holiday weekend

Tom Anders A small fluffy bird with a bright orange beak. It sits on dirt with two large bird feet next to it.Tom Anders
Flamingo chicks are white in colour when they are born

A growing flamingo family has rounded off "a lot of success" in an estate's breeding programme.

Seven Chilean flamingo chicks have hatched over the last couple days at Longleat, near Warminster and staff there expect more to follow over the Bank Holiday weekend.

When they first hatch, they are white in colour as their signature pink develops as they grow up.

Darren Beasley, head of animal operations, said: "It's fantastic to have more new arrivals to round off the summer season. We've seen lots of success in our breeding programmes this year."

Tom Anders A small fluffy chick with a large flamingo looking down at it with a big beak.Tom Anders
Longleat staff said seven flamingo chicks have been born so far this weekend and more are expected

The Wiltshire estate has seen a baby boom in recent months, with the arrival of rare Amur tiger twins, a red panda cub and two capybara pups.

The tiger cubs - born 29 July - have opened their eyes and are moving around independently, their keepers have reported.

Longleat's red panda cub is now eight weeks old and has started to develop its characteristic red colouring.

A spokesperson from Longleat said: "Mum, Emma, can be seen moving the cub between nest boxes, and lucky guests may even see the cub peeking outside as it becomes more curious.

"A recent health check revealed the cub is a boy, and keepers are waiting to find the perfect name for him."

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