If you’re in Vegas, you can stay at the Flamingo hotel, but you’re not allowed to bring a REAL flamingo back to your hotel.
A 33-year-old tourist from Canada named Mitchell Fairbarn was arrested after police said he stole a flamingo from its habitat at the Flamingo hotel and took the bird back to his room. It’s probably a safe bet that he’d been drinking.
He was caught on surveillance cameras entering the habitat around 5:00 a.m., and grabbing a bird named “Peachy.” He was also rough with several other birds. He then carried one of the flamingos back to his room.
Mitchell initially told police that he went into the habitat because he saw a flamingo in distress, and said that he knew how to “pop a bird’s wing into place” because of his background as a “farm boy.” But in reality, he was so brutal with the birds that he’s facing four counts of felony animal abuse.
For what it’s worth, the hotel says that the birds are being cared for by veterinarians, and they’re hopeful that they all make a full recovery. (This report has more details about Mitchell’s abuse, but it’s gruesome.)
