Banded Flamingos Spotted in Cozumel Conservation Effort

Cozumel, Mexico — The Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC) has documented the presence of two banded pink flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) at Punta Sur Ecotourism Park, as part of ongoing monitoring and conservation efforts for the species.

The specimens carry bands from the Comprehensive Caribbean Flamingo Conservation Program, an initiative of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), which provides valuable data on the longevity, migration patterns, survival, and reproduction of these birds in the Yucatán Peninsula.

Rafael Chacón Díaz, director of Conservation and Environmental Education (CEA), explained that these flamingos were originally marked in the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve; one with the band DHHT in the Las Coloradas area and the other with DXZZ in the El Cuyo area, Yucatán.

The latter has been sighted previously in Cozumel, so it is likely they will remain in the Laguna Colombia area during the winter season, emphasizing that the sighting has already been reported to the Comprehensive Caribbean Flamingo Conservation Program for follow-up.

The FPMC has documented on several occasions the arrival of flamingos with identification marks to Punta Sur, through photographic records and systematic observations that strengthen the database on the species. These reports confirm that the lagoon basins of Punta Sur offer optimal environmental conditions for their refuge and feeding.

In recent years, the presence of the flamingo community in Laguna Colombia has shown steady growth, reflecting a favorable environmental balance that allows the survival of key flora and fauna for biodiversity, such as ospreys, crocodiles, and various migratory birds.

The presence of flamingos in Cozumel, besides being a positive biological indicator, provides a unique landscape value that enriches the natural beauty of Punta Sur and reaffirms FPMC’s commitment to the conservation of the island’s coastal ecosystems.