Animal profiles is a documentation of interesting animals. Enjoy my weekly profiles.

Name: Butters
Age: 3 years
Species: Caribbean Flamingo
Location: San Diego Zoo

Butters is imprinted on his keeper. With their bright feathers and strongly hooked bills, flamingos are among the most easily recognized water birds. Their pink or reddish color comes from the rich sources of carotenoid pigments (like the pigments of carrots) in the algae and small crustaceans that the birds eat. The Caribbean flamingos are the brightest, showing their true colors of red, pink, or orange on their legs, bills, and faces.

Special thanks to the San Diego Zoo for lending me Animal Ambassador Rick Schwartz and opening the zookeeper doors.

About the San Diego Zoo & Safari Park - www.sandiegozoo.org
The 100-acre San Diego Zoo located in Balboa Park is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and their habitats. The organization focuses on conservation and research work around the globe, educates millions of individuals a year about wildlife and maintains accredited horticultural, animal, library and photo collections.

The Zoo also manages the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo Safari Park (historically referred to as the Wild Animal Park), which includes a 900-acre native species reserve, and the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research.

Other Animal Profiles

Binturong
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-755793

Orangutan
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-752455

Thomson's Gazelle
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-749692

Giraffe
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-744090

Fossa
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-740149

Cape Buffalo
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-736395

Northern White Rhino
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-733391

Prehensile Tailed Porcupine
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-726400

Echidna
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-729814