Environmental Enrichment Increases Foraging Duration in Chilean Flamingos Under Human Care

Animal welfare is a priority for modern zoos, with environmental enrichment playing a key role in promoting natural behaviors. We studied a captive flock of Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) at the Chilean National Zoo, which was normally fed in a concrete pool. We evaluated the effects of introducing mud-based enrichment to stimulate natural foraging behavior. We also analyzed the flock's social dynamics, including dominance hierarchies and interaction networks, to assess their influence on resource access. Social network analysis revealed a highly cohesive group with strong clustering, high transitivity, and a semi-linear dominance structure, indicating stable and frequent agonistic interactions. However, neither dominance rank nor sex significantly influenced foraging behavior. The enrichment intervention led to a 12% increase in overall foraging time, a 23% reduction in pool foraging, and a shift toward using the mud puddles. These changes aligned with the species' natural foraging strategies. Our findings demonstrate that enrichment can promote species-natural behaviors and highlight its importance in improving the welfare of captive flamingos in zoological settings.