Fox, V.E., Lindeque, P.M., Simmons, R.E., Berry, H.H., Brain, C. & Braby, R. 1997. Flamingo ‘rescue’ in Etosha National Park, 1994: technical, conservation and economic considerations. Ostrich 68 (2–4): 72–76. During April 1994,144 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber chicks were taken from Etosha Pan, Namibia, following drying of the shallow water and the death of hundreds of chicks. The captured chicks ranged from approximately 2 weeks to 2 months of age and were hand-reared at Okaukuejo until being released (7 weeks later) or sold (12 weeks later). Fourteen birds died within 8 days; only two died later. Of 77 chicks released at Walvis Bay, their traditional wintering grounds, 76 were fitted with yellow plastic rings and 73 with numbered metal rings. These grey juveniles were highly visible in the lagoon among the pink adults, and were resighted regularly. Most of the 20 birds recovered dead within two months of release were birds with wing chord measurements less than 315 mm, and black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas predation was the most likely cause of death. Bird counts 11 and 14 months later at Walvis Bay and surrounding wetlands revealed no juveniles at all, suggesting high mortality. However, four ringed flamingos were sighted in Jan. 1997, and one debilitated ringed flamingo was recovered at the Namibia-Botswana border in Feb. 1997. A lack of predator avoidance was thought to be the main factor responsible for the high mortalities.