Kenya’s iconic pink flamingos are losing both their vibrant color and their numbers as environmental changes alter the chemistry of the Rift Valley’s alkaline lakes. Scientists say rising water levels, driven largely by heavier rainfall and other geological factors, are transforming the lakes into freshwater systems, reducing the cyanobacteria that provide flamingos with their distinctive pink pigmentation and primary food source. As food becomes scarce, the birds are migrating elsewhere, leaving noticeably smaller flocks at lakes such as Bogoria and Elementaita. Conservationists warn that the changes reflect broader environmental pressures, including shifting rainfall patterns, pollution, and increasing human activity. Researchers describe the flamingos as an early warning indicator of ecosystem health and stress that protecting the region’s fragile wetlands is essential for preserving one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife attractions.
Africanews