The flamingo known as "Greater" after his
species was put to sleep on 30/01/2014 Thursday due to complications associated
with old age, having arrived at the zoo in 1933.
Greater is survived by long-term friend Chilly a Chilean
flamingo who is in his 60s and will be monitored to see how he reacts to the
death.
"Greater is best known for being the world's oldest
flamingo and the last greater flamingo to have resided in Australia," Zoos
South Australia chief executive Elaine Bensted said.
"Although this is an extremely sad loss for us all,
it was the right thing to do.
"There was no additional medical treatment that
would have improved Greater's quality of life." Zoo staff said records
showed another flamingo was still alive aged 67, believed to be in a South
American zoo. No bird in the wild would live so long, due to predators and lack
of medical attention. While flamingos can live for decades in captivity, they
only have a lifespan of about 25 years in the wild.