A foolish tourist was arrested in Las Vegas for stealing a flamingo from the Flamingo hotel and mistreating the bird in his room. Mitchell Fairbarn, a 33-year-old from Ontario, Canada, was caught on camera grabbing Peachy, a Chilean flamingo, by the neck and declaring his intention to take it home. He then dragged the bird into an elevator and took it to his room on the 14th floor.
In his room, Fairbarn proceeded to chase and pin down the bird, causing injuries to its wing that required stitches. He claimed to have knowledge of “popping” the wing back into place from his experience as a farm boy. Footage showed Fairbarn and an accomplice choking the flamingo as they posed for photos with the bird in the hotel hallway.
Authorities found a large bloody feather in the hotel room, and Fairbarn was charged with torturing, maiming, or killing an animal. His bail was set at $12,000. Peachy was taken to a veterinarian for treatment, and officials are optimistic about the bird’s full recovery. Two other flamingos in the enclosure were also injured during the incident.
Caesars Entertainment Corp, the owner of the hotel, expressed concern for the well-being of the birds and assured that they were under the care of dedicated veterinarians and the Flamingo animal care team. They are hopeful that all the birds, including Peachy, will make a full recovery from the ordeal.
