In brief
Mitchell Fairbarn, 34, stole a Chilean flamingo named Peachy from the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in March, carrying the bird into his hotel room while heavily intoxicated. Video evidence and expert testimony showed the bird suffered injuries, prompting a jury to convict Fairbarn of felony and misdemeanor animal abuse. He faces nearly five years in prison, while the flamingo has since largely recovered but exhibits increased caution around humans. The incident highlights the need for respect within wildlife habitats and cautious tourism behavior.
A Canadian man, Mitchell Fairbarn, was convicted for taking a flamingo from the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino’s free wildlife habitat in March. The stolen bird, a Chilean flamingo named Peachy, was carried into Fairbarn’s hotel room while he had reportedly consumed 30 to 40 beers prior to the act.
Trial footage showed Fairbarn smiling as he lifted the bird by its neck, with CCTV capturing the climb in an elevator. He claimed he never intended to harm the animal, though animal experts testified that Peachy suffered torn feathers and blood loss during the ordeal.
Fairbarn’s lawyer described the incident as a “harmless prank” and blamed alcohol for his “bad decisions.” In a quote to the media, lawyer Josh Tomsheck said, “He should not have gone into the habitat, shouldn’t have touched a bird, shouldn’t have taken Peachy inside.”
“The truth is, Mitch was drunk. Mitch was stupid. He made bad decisions.”
During the trial, the jury heard from 14 witnesses and reviewed more than 112 pieces of evidence. It took roughly five hours for the jury to convict Fairbarn on felony and misdemeanor animal abuse charges, the court said.
Fairbarn, now 34, has been under house arrest in Las Vegas since his arrest and is awaiting sentencing in December. He has been unable to leave the United States pending the case.
A state veterinarian confirmed that Peachy has largely recovered but now displays a more anxious demeanor around people. The incident underscores the importance of respecting wildlife habitats, even in tourist destinations where animal displays are part of the attraction.
For updates on the sentencing date, stay tuned to FlashPointInfo.com.
