They might look pretty and pink but love had definitely been off the menu for flamingos at Drusillas Park.

That is until keepers at the zoo near Alfriston stepped in to play Cupid to the endangered animals.

The love-shy flamingos had not bred for five years so staff hatched a plan to boost the birds’ libidos.

And after spending time building nests for the birds they have been rewarded with the arrival of their first chick for years.

Head keeper Mark Kenward said: “It wasn't so much firing Cupid’s arrow but more of a shovel actually.

“We built nests for the flamingos to lay their eggs on top of. They're actually called start-nests and look a little bit like mini volcanoes.

“We initially used the shovels to dig up the earth for the nests and then it was a case of waiting for the flamingos to get in the mood. They had a look around the nests and decided they were OK.

“To be honest we were really surprised when we got an egg because it's been so long since the last one. In 2006 we had moved the flamingos and it had taken them a while to get settled in their new environment.

“Eventually we noticed a little chick peering out from under the mother's wing – a little bit like a periscope. I suppose you could say it's the flamingo feather in the cap – it made me very proud.”

The new arrival is from the Chilean flamingo family and is extremely rare.

Classified as a threatened species, Chilean flamingos are native to western South America.

Populations have declined in the wild mainly due to water pollution, interference in their wetland habitats, as well as human activity near breeding sites which can lead the birds to abandon their nests.

Zoo manager Sue Woodgate said: “We are delighted with the turn of events. The flamingos moved into their purpose built enclosure two years ago and the recent breeding success shows they are now completely settled. We hope it is just the start of things to come.”

Mr Kenward said: “It's very exciting. We've got three other eggs in incubators waiting to hatch, they're due in a week or two.”