sábado, 23 de febrero de 2019

The Andean Flamenco or parihuana in Peruvian history.



The Andean Flamenco or parihuana in Peruvian history.

Andean flamingo (scientific name: Phoenicoparrus andinus) is also known as parihuana, parina, chururu, tococo and large parina. It exists in Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, countries where there are mountain ranges and lagoons in high areas, in wetlands whose height ranges from 1500 to 4500 meters. Flamingos can fly 700 miles in a day; in the summer they live in salt lakes and migrate to the lower wetlands for winter. The cause of this migration from summer to winter is due to the extreme dryness of the salt flats during the winter. In Peru it is also found in the beautiful bay of Paracas. Some regions where they live are protected, such as the Eduardo Abaroa National Wildlife Reserve (Bolivia), the Paracas National Reserve, the Salinas and Aguada Blanca Reserve (both in Peru), the Mar Chiquita Lagoon (Argentina) and the Atacama Salt Flat. (Chile). In Peruvian history, it is associated with the colors of the national flag, red and white.

The Andean flamingos in the adult stage can reach a height between 130 and 150 centimeters, the wingspan reaches 150 cm. The maximum weight can be 4 kilos, the average is 1.5 kg. The predominant pink color, with red and white spots; the beak is black and has a yellow base. Andean flamenco is the only one with yellow legs.



Andean flamenco adapts to the conditions of the environment where it is found; Your favorite diet is blue green algae, small invertebrates and fish that are found in ponds and ponds. The life expectancy of Andean flamingos in a natural state is between 20 to 50 years, with favorable conditions. In captivity they can live 60 years. The sexual maturity is reached when they are between 4 to 6 years old, they are monogamous, the brooding lasts between 23 and 34 days. They are very sociable, daytime and nomadic. The main nesting site worldwide for this species is the Salar de Atacama, in Chile. At three months of age the chicks are able to fly and move, mainly towards more northern latitudes.


Risks for Andean flamingo populations

Flamenco is at the limit of the line of extinction, it is considered a vulnerable animal and has been included in the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature for several years. It is not in danger of extinction, but if it continues the human aggression to its habitat and to themselves, soon it will be history. The overexploitation of their ecosystems by mining, the excessive and uncontrolled collection of their eggs, as well as climate change represent a real danger.



The main threat to the flamingos are the mining excavations, at the end of the summer rainy season. The Andean flamingo habitat is rich in boron compounds, especially borax, which is toxic to Andean flamingos; Excess boron causes skeletal malformations, cardiovascular defects and degeneration of the testicles. A dose of 5 g of borax can produce adverse effects in animal populations, its development and reproduction is affected. Mining also affects the availability of water and accelerates the removal of moisture from lakes. Andean flamingos filter surface water for food, but borax contaminates this water. With insufficient food supply and a disturbed habitat, population decline is inevitable.

A senseless or motivated human activity by greed is the collection of eggs by the locals; groups of organized criminals in Chile trap the flamingos and export them to Europe, the United States and other destinations abroad. Egg collection may be acceptable if local populations are malnourished, but the studies show no protein deficiency.


References

Flamenco Andino

Phoenicoparrus andinus


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