Flamingo with tumor is now cancer-free. See him reunite with his flock at SC zoo
A flamingo with a tumor is now cancer-free — and had a heartwarming reunion with his flock.
The Greenville Zoo in South Carolina said it will “monitor the flamingo as he gets reacquainted with his lagoon and feathered friends.”
A photo posted March 8 on Facebook shows Finn spread his wings as he was released back into his habitat. The flamingo returned to the other pink birds months after blood on his feathers led him to be diagnosed with skin cancer on his right wing, the zoo told McClatchy News in an email.
“He received multiple rounds of radiation therapy to shrink the tumor and surgery to remove the remaining tumor tissue,” the zoo wrote on social media as it posted pictures of Finn lying on a medical table while being evaluated.
Finn underwent cancer treatment with the help of Upstate Vet, which shared a similar Facebook post. The animal hospital said the flamingo’s wing eventually “healed with no sign of the tumor.”
Then, it was time for the bird to rejoin his flock. Dr. Nikolay Kapustin, a zoo veterinarian, said he was seen running back to his friends at the wildlife center, where he will continue to receive check-ups.
“It was so great to see the flamingo return to the lagoon and be immediately welcomed back by the flock,” zookeeper Ava Baranoski said via email. “After a long treatment process, it was gratifying for everyone involved to see him finally be able to participate in normal flamingo behaviors with his flock again.”
Finn is a Chilean flamingo, a species known for feathers that develop an iconic pink color as the birds age. The flamingos can grow up to 3 feet tall and often gather by the thousands for safety, according to the Detroit Zoo in Michigan.
This story was originally published March 22, 2024 at 11:49 AM with the headline "Flamingo with tumor is now cancer-free. See him reunite with his flock at SC zoo."
