Photo by jasperdoest / Conservation mascot Flamingo Bob, as he's known, is seen in one the plantation mansions on Curaçao, a reminder of the island's colonial past. Curaçao was conquered by the Netherlands in the 17th century at a time when—and well into the 19th century—the region was dominated by slavery. The colonies served as military bases, trading posts, and plantations. ⠀ The relationship between the Netherlands and the Caribbean colonies changed in the second half of the 20th century, as residents became dissatisfied with the predominance of Dutch businesses in the economy of Curaçao while many people still lived in poverty. Eventually each island decided that a separate relationship with the Netherlands would be better. In October 2010 the Netherlands Antilles officially ceased to exist and Curaçao became an independent constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This month marks 10 years of independence, yet the balance of this new status and the retention of t...