In 1924, the James' flamingo was believed to be extinct. It was rediscovered in 1957 sharing the habitat of the Chilean flamingo.

No species of flamingo is listed as "endangered" under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

All species of flamingos are listed in CITES Appendix II. This Appendix lists species that are in need of protection and are considered to be threatened and likely to become endangered if trade isn't regulated.

IUCN/The World Conservation Union is a worldwide conservation organization. This organization links together government agencies, non-government agencies, and independent states to encourage a worldwide approach to conservation.

The Caribbean and greater flamingos are listed as "least concern" (species is widespread and abundant) by the IUCN. The lesser, James', and Chilean flamingos are listed as "near threatened" (species is close to being classified as "threatened" in the future), and the Andean flamingo is listed as "vulnerable" (species faces a high risk of extinction in the wild).

Caribbean, Chilean, and greater flamingos are protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Act of 1918.

With a population of more than 300 flamingos, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has the largest flock of Caribbean flamingos of any zoological park in the world.

Hialeah Park, located near Miami, Florida, is a racetrack with a flock of Caribbean flamingos numbering approximately 500. Hialeah Park has a lake with four islands. The flamingos nest on these islands. To assist in preserving the flamingo flock of Hialeah Park, the Hialeah Park Flamingo Consortium was formed. The Consortium provides birds to other institutions to increase the population of captive flamingos. The consortium includes SeaWorld, Discovery Island, and the Los Angeles Zoo.

Zoological parks have had success in breeding Chilean, Caribbean, and greater flamingos. SeaWorld is one of the few North American zoological parks that have successfully bred lesser flamingos.