A flamingo named Frankie, who escaped from Paradise Park in Hayle, Cornwall, surprised keepers by traveling over 100 miles to France. The adventurous bird, whose wings were clipped to prevent long flights, managed to reach the coast of Brittany. Staff at the sanctuary expressed amazement and relief at finding Frankie in good health despite her unexpected journey.
Frankie made her escape on November 2, initially spotted near Porthtowan before briefly returning to Hayle the same day. Over a week later, reports surfaced of Frankie being sighted in north-west France with minor injuries. Paradise Park confirmed the sighting, noting that although Greater Flamingos in Southern France resemble Frankie, her distinctive wing feathers indicated her identity.
While acknowledging flamingos’ ability to cover long distances, the park was astonished by Frankie’s feat and grateful for her well-being. The team mentioned that Frankie had found a suitable habitat in a protected estuary in France, where she could feed comfortably. However, the likelihood of bringing her back to the UK was deemed very slim, leaving uncertainty about future plans.
Looking ahead, the park hoped Frankie would integrate with a colony of greater flamingos in south-west France, viewing it as the best current outcome for their beloved bird.