Flamingos back outside as bird flu restrictions end

A flock of flamingos have been settling into their outdoor paddock having been forced indoors while waiting four months for avian influenza restrictions to be lifted.

Housing 23 species of birds including penguins and greater rheas, Banham Zoo in Norfolk follows a number of biosecurity processes and measures all year-round.

Despite a number of cautious steps, the zoo's flock of 43 Chilean flamingos have returned to their outdoor enclosure in preparation for bird flu restrictions being lifted on Thursday.

Sophie Imhof, team leader of birds at the zoo, said: "Watching them head outside again — full of curiosity, a few dramatic pauses and then those brilliant bursts of energy — has been a real highlight."

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said with the mandatory indoor housing measures lifting, keepers had been given seven days to make sure outdoor enclosures were disinfected for birds to be released.

Since 1 October, there have been 76 confirmed cases of bird flu in England, including 14 in Norfolk.

The Traditional Norfolk Poultry firm is taking part in a trial using more than 1,000 turkeys to see how receptive they are to a new vaccine against avian influenza.

Imhof said visitors to the zoo would notice a difference with restrictions lifting as measures including foot dip mats had been removed.

"Most of the time it makes people aware... when they are walking across a foot dip mat and we are constantly making them aware of the situation and they are always willing to help," she said.

She added that it had been a "joy" to see the long-legged pink birds "back where they belong".

"Their return to the pond has been especially lovely with plenty of splashing, strutting, and settling back into their natural rhythm together," she said.

"It's much nicer to see them out there. We have caught them just in time because it is coming up to their breeding season so they are very active."

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