The flamingo, with its beautiful pink color and graceful stance on its slender legs, catches the eye. Its lovely appearance has made it a popular character in cartoons and is often made into tubes, dolls, decorations, and other items. Some people may think it's a flightless bird, like a chicken or an ostrich, because they haven't seen it in person, but flamingos are birds that can fly.

Pink flamingos are born white or gray. As they grow, they gradually turn pink. Why are flamingos pink? The reason flamingos are pink, not only their feathers but also their legs, is related to their diet. Flamingos eat crustaceans like crabs, shrimp, and clams, and the red pigment called astaxanthin in these crustaceans makes their bodies red. It's amazing how their diet determines their color!

Flamingos also have a unique sleeping posture. It looks uncomfortable to us when they sleep standing on one leg. The reason they stand on one leg is to keep their other leg tucked under their feathers to maintain their body temperature.

Flamingos are full of mystery, just like their flamboyant appearance. But there are flamingos that are facing extinction.

The Andean flamingo is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Andean flamingo, which is considered Vulnerable (VU), may be in danger of serious extinction within a few years. The exact number is unknown, but it is reported to be declining. Of course, flamingos in zoos may be able to maintain their population, but flamingos in the wild are said to be facing extinction.

The Andean flamingo lives in the Andes Mountains. High altitude areas are also sensitive to climate change. Extreme weather events such as droughts, storms, and floods have become more frequent, which is one of the reasons for the Andean flamingo's endangerment.

Lithium mining activities have also been shown to harm Andean flamingos. Lithium, which is used in batteries for smartphones and electric cars, is mined in areas that overlap with the Andean flamingo's habitat. The production of lithium requires a large amount of water, and using lakes and groundwater is threatening the survival of flamingos.

Indiana University is attaching GPS devices to Andean flamingos to track their movement patterns. They have been observing for 2-4 years, along with the surrounding climate conditions. Thanks to their efforts, the Andean flamingo has been classified as an endangered species by the IUCN and is being protected. The Andean flamingo is also protected by the CITES treaty, which regulates international trade in wild animals and plants.

Besides the Andean flamingo, there are many other flamingos that are in danger of extinction. Although they are not yet as endangered as the Andean flamingo, we hope that conservation efforts will be made more actively so that no more flamingos will be in a dangerous situation.