Tuz Lake's flamingos rear young communally
A massive colony of flamingos is seen gathered at Tuz Lake, located on the border of Ankara, Konya, and Aksaray. (AA Photo)
Tuz Lake in central Türkiye, one of the world’s most significant flamingo breeding grounds, is hosting a successful breeding season this year, with around 12,800 flamingo chicks growing under the protection of an unusual “nursery system” in which hundreds of adult birds collectively care for thousands of young.
The breeding colony is being monitored as part of a project led by the Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Ministry to protect endangered species and conserve critical habitats.
Project coordinator Ahmet Karataş said surveys conducted this season identified approximately 12,800 chicks, describing the figure as one of the strongest breeding results recorded in recent years. He attributed the success largely to abundant rainfall during the winter and spring, which replenished water resources not only in Tuz Lake but also in nearby wetlands.
