The Dallas Zoo announced in early June that its flamingos are on display once again.
The zoo closed some bird viewing areas in April because of avian flu. Bird shows were also canceled.
Avian flu is a highly infectious and deadly virus that infects millions of poultry birds across the country. Texas reported its first case of the virus in early April.
In Texas, the avian flu affects chickens and turkeys raised for food. The virus was also detected in a wild flock of pheasants southwest of Fort Worth in Erath County and in a wild owl in Wichita Falls in May. While no animal-to-human transmission has been discovered, the virus can cause severe illness in humans.
According to the zoo, officials decided to resume the bird display as Texas has not seen any new cases since May.
“The flamingos are back in the flamingo pond, enjoying the space to stretch their necks and shake a leg,” the zoo said in an announcement on Instagram.
The announcement inviting bird lovers to pay the zoo a visit added that the “Birds Landing and Forest Aviary are open again as well.”
Flamingos are vibrant pink birds widely appreciated for their unique beauty. As captivating as they are, they are not allowed to be captured and kept as pets.
According to Bird Watching, possessing flamingos without a valid license is illegal, as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits them from being kept in captivity. Some exceptions make it possible for animal parks and zoos to keep the wading birds, but private individuals might find it difficult to obtain permission to keep them.
Per Bird Watching, individuals with licenses to keep flamingos are not allowed to catch them. Instead, they must purchase them from reputable breeders.
Depending on the species, flamingos are sold for between $2,500 to $3,500.
Flamingos also made news in Texas in late March when Pink Floyd — one of two flamingos that escaped from a zoo in Wichita, Kansas, 17 years ago — was spotted flying around the Gulf Coast.