Zoo’s Pride post about a flamingo couple’s split shocks fans. ‘We all need answers’

A Denver Zoo post on Facebook celebrating Pride that mentions two male flamingos have ended their relationship has fans demanding answers.

The zoo’s June 23 post noted that the 75 flamingos in its flock form not only breeding pairs but strongly bonded same-sex pairs. Then it dropped a bombshell.

“While our famed, same-sex couple Chilean flamingo Lance Bass and American flamingo Freddie Mercury are no longer a pair, they were paired up for several years and acted as surrogate parents if a breeding pair was unable to raise their chick,” the zoo post reads.

Visitors to the zoo’s Facebook page had more than a few questions to go along with plenty of praise for the “beautiful diversity” in the post.

“They broke up?!? Why? How does that even work?!? I have so many questions!” one comment read.

“Sad they are no longer together. Why? I need more information please,” read another comment.

“We all need answers....why aren’t they together anymore??? What are they doing now? Are they alright?” one person wrote.

The zoo followed up the next day with an explanation — and an apology.

“It seems like our flamingo post yesterday may have ruffled some feathers and we want to sincerely apologize,” the post reads.

Not all birds mate for life, zoo officials explained, and couples sometimes break up for whatever reason birds have for splitting. The zoo assured fans the breakup was amicable and both flamingos are doing well.

Freddie Mercury has rebounded with a female flamingo named Iommi, the zoo said.

“Iommi has been around Freddie for nearly her entire life without any indication of a bond before, so keepers aren’t exactly sure why these two decided to pair up,” the post reads.

Lance Bass, on the other hand, seems to be flying solo, figuratively speaking, at least for the time being, the zoo said.

“Our flock allows our birds to choose who they decide to form associations with and we’re happy to celebrate their pairings this month and every month. Happy Pride!” the post concludes.

“Seems as though flamingos are really great at loving who they love and accepting others who do the same,” read one response. “May we all strive to be as wonderful.”

This story was originally published June 29, 2022 at 1:29 PM with the headline "Zoo’s Pride post about a flamingo couple’s split shocks fans. ‘We all need answers’."