A growing trend of Caribbean flamingos living in resorts, particularly in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, has raised concerns among conservationists. While tourists enjoy close encounters with these iconic birds and share photos on social media, flamingos face significant threats to their well-being. Some are captured from the wild and confined to resorts, where they undergo procedures like feather clipping and bone removal, which hinder their ability to fly and survive in the wild. Collaborative initiatives, such as Rescate Rosado (“Pinky Rescue” in English), created by environmentalist Eladio Fernandez in partnership with Grupo Acción Ecológica, the National Zoo, and the Ministry of Environment, work to rescue and rehabilitate these flamingos, returning them to the wild to help restore their populations. To date, more than 70 flamingos have been released.
