Post-mortem examination and sampling of African flamingos (Phoenicopteridae) under field conditions.

Recent largely unexplained deaths in African flamingos have prompted the need for standard, reproducible methods for thepost-mortemexamination of these birds, for the taking of samples and for the recording of findings. Here we describe suitable techniques and present three distinct protocols for field-basedpost-mortemexamination of flamingos that can be employed flexibly, depending on the circumstances, by veterinarians and non-professionals alike. The adoption of these protocols is strongly recommended to improve standardisation of data and sample collection, which will ultimately enhance our understanding of the causes of mortality in African flamingos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]