A Canadian tourist is facing felony animal abuse charges after police say he broke into a Las Vegas hotel wildlife habitat, stole a flamingo and brought it to his room.
Authorities arrested 33-year-old Mitchell Fairbarn of Ontario after investigators said surveillance cameras captured him entering the Flamingo hotel’s wildlife habitat before dawn and grabbing one of the birds.
Police responded to the hotel on March 3 after staff reported a man trespassing inside the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat and harming multiple animals.
Investigators reviewed CCTV footage that showed Fairbarn entering the enclosure around 5 a.m.
The video shows him grabbing a Chilean flamingo named Peachy, a 27-year-old bird that lives inside the well-known Strip attraction.
The habitat houses six flamingos that are cared for by veterinarians and hotel animal specialists.
Police said the situation escalated as Fairbarn tried to remove Peachy from the enclosure. Investigators allege he injured several birds during the struggle.
Authorities say he pinned down another flamingo and prevented the animal from escaping while attempting to remove Peachy.
Surveillance footage shows the suspect leaving the habitat while carrying the bird wrapped inside a shirt. The video then captures him entering an elevator while shirtless and holding the bird.
Additional footage shows him walking down a hotel corridor while gripping the flamingo by the neck and legs as he returns to his room.
Police later searched the suspect’s hotel room and discovered evidence tied to the alleged abuse. Officers found a large bloody feather along with other materials inside the room.
Investigators also reviewed photos and videos recovered from Fairbarn’s phone. Authorities say the images allegedly show the tourist choking the flamingo and throwing it onto the floor.
One video clip reportedly captured him laughing while announcing he was “taking [the bird] home.”
During questioning, Fairbarn admitted entering the flamingo habitat but gave a different explanation for his actions.
Police reported that he claimed he entered the enclosure after noticing a bird in distress. He also told investigators he believed he had “popped” the flamingo’s wing back into place.
Police summarized his explanation in their report. “He stated he knows that ‘popping’ the wing back into its place [is] a common practice for birds, such as ducks. He has knowledge of his because he is a farm boy,” investigators wrote.
Animal care experts later examined Peachy and discovered injuries to the bird’s wing. According to veterinarians, the injury occurred when the wing was pulled away from the body.
The flamingo required stitches after the incident. At least two additional flamingos suffered injuries during the encounter inside the enclosure.
Authorities charged Fairbarn with four felony counts of torturing, maiming or killing an animal kept for companionship or pleasure.
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Court records show he posted $12,000 bail and was ordered to stay away from the Las Vegas Strip while the case moves forward.
The Flamingo hotel’s parent company condemned the incident after the bird was taken from the habitat. Caesars Entertainment described the event as “deeply distressing.”
“Our beloved birds, including Peachy, who was cruelly taken from the habitat, are currently in the care of dedicated veterinarians and our extraordinary Flamingo animal care team,” the company said in a statement. “We are hopeful they will make a full recovery.”
Veterinarian Dr. Tiffany Moore has been overseeing the flamingos’ treatment. Moore serves as medical director at Lone Mountain Animal Hospital, which provides care for the birds at the Flamingo habitat.
She reported that Peachy’s injuries appeared limited but still serious. Moore warned that animals captured under extreme stress can develop a condition known as capture myopathy.
The illness can occur when animals experience intense stress and physical exertion during capture.
“Where you capture an animal, their body builds up a lot of stress. It also causes a lot of acid buildup, which can eventually lead to death,” Moore explained.
Doctors monitored Peachy closely after the incident. Moore said the flamingo did not show signs of the condition.
“As of right now, he’s alert, he’s doing well. His feisty personality is coming back, so we’re really happy to see that it looks like he is going to make a full recovery,” Moore said.
She added that the bird remained responsive during the examination. “There were a couple blood feathers that were injured and we took care of that with pain meds to help support because it is painful very similar to ripping off a fingernail,” Moore said.
The Flamingo habitat has experienced previous incidents involving animal harm.
In 2012, a visitor killed a bird inside the attraction after entering the enclosure while intoxicated. Justin Teixeira beheaded a helmeted guinea fowl named Turk during that incident.
Teixeira later apologized and received a sentence that included six months in a boot camp program after completing 190 days at the Indian Springs Correctional Facility.
Animal abuse cases have also surfaced in other states involving wildlife kept in controlled environments.
In Florida, two men were charged after investigators said they illegally removed a massive tarpon from a lagoon at Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters.
Authorities identified the suspects as Derrick Lee Vivian, 25, and Christopher Jeffrey Smith, 20.
Investigators said surveillance footage showed the pair sneaking into the aquarium property around 2:50 a.m.
The men fished inside a private lagoon and eventually caught a tarpon measuring more than four feet long.
Officials said the suspects held the fish out of the water while posing for photos.
The fish was later returned to the lagoon but employees discovered it dead afterward.
Florida wildlife law requires tarpon longer than 40 inches to remain in the water unless a fisherman holds a special record tag issued before the catch.
Violating that rule can lead to criminal penalties.
Smith was booked into jail in connection with the case while Vivian was arrested earlier in the investigation.
First-time offenders charged with the misdemeanor can face up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Authorities noted that Smith had previously received a citation after officers discovered an undersized snook inside a bucket during a traffic stop.
In California, wildlife officials confronted another case involving tourists interacting with protected animals.
A San Diego park ranger removed a visiting family from La Jolla Cove after witnesses reported they were harassing sea lions.
Photographer Jim Grant recorded video of the confrontation as the ranger warned the group.
The ranger asked the woman where the family was from. “China,” the woman replied. “China? In China, do you guys throw dirt at the animals too?” the ranger asked.
The ranger later questioned the behavior again. “Why shouldn’t I give you a citation for kicking an animal?” he asked.
Officials ultimately escorted the group out of the cove instead of issuing a citation.
Harassing sea lions violates the Marine Mammal Protection Act and can lead to penalties reaching $30,000 per violation and up to one year in prison.
