Colombia recently received good news for conservation: a colony of 200 pink flamingos has settled in the Ciénaga de la Virgen in Cartagena de Indias.
This confirms the environmental recovery of this urban ecosystem, as the birds returned after years of absence.
Thus, the return of the pink flamingos to Cartagena represents an environmental milestone, as these birds left the area decades ago due to pollution.
But now, with the recovery of the ecosystem of the swamp in Cartagena, the possibilities of adequate feeding for the pink flamingos have increased, which is why they returned to the area.
According to officials from the Environmental Public Establishment (EPA), the group came from the department of La Guajira.
The key to the return of pink flamingos to Cartagena: more favorable conditions for their feeding
“They come in the dry seasons because they find similar salinity levels, they find low tides, but they also find conditions for their feeding,” explained Aurora Vidal, coordinator of Flora and Fauna at EPA.
Pink flamingos fly long distances in search of suitable feeding areas and today, the swamp in Cartagena is once again one of them.
The official highlighted that there is a greater quantity of crustaceans and microalgae. These food resources were essential to attract the flamingos.
“This season the flamingo population increased and all are in very good condition,” said Vidal. Thus, the presence of these birds indicates substantial improvements.
The return of flamingos to the Ciénaga de la Virgen, a symbol of recovery
The presence of pink flamingos in Cartagena functions as a bioindicator, showing that the ecosystem is more balanced thanks to recomposition work.
“It’s very good news because it’s a bioindicator of the recovery of the Ciénaga de La Virgen,” the expert noted.
This ecosystem hosts other fauna species:
- Seagulls and boobies
- Pelicans and wild ducks
- White herons
- Crustaceans and various fish
In the swamp, there also live human communities that depend on fishing for their daily sustenance.
The causes of the degradation of this area of Cartagena that drove away the pink flamingos
The ecosystem deteriorated due to the heavy anthropic load: at one point, the natural channels of connection between salt and fresh waters were closed due to road construction.
Additionally, a large part of Cartagena’s sewage ended up in the swamp. This situation created inhospitable conditions for the birds.
But at the end of 2000, the La Bocana channel was opened to oxygenate the swamp, and in 2013 the submarine outfall was implemented to deposit sewage kilometers out to sea to improve this situation.
“All the threats that the fragile ecosystem of the swamp receives are anthropic, generated by humans,” explained Vidal. However, irregular settlements continue to grow.
Pending challenges
In Cartagena, there are still neighborhoods without sewerage or basic public services. “There is still pressure and pollution,” added the EPA official.
Some sectors steal space from the swamp with rubble fills that change the water’s pH. These factors affect salinity and biochemical levels.
Therefore, although Vidal was optimistic about the return of pink flamingos to Cartagena, she emphasized the need for more regulations.
Environmental education in Colombia, she considered, is crucial to protecting the ecosystem.
Only with greater awareness among the population will species like the pink flamingos always return to Cartagena in search of food and refuge.
