In brief
In March, Canadian visitor Mitchell Fairbarn absconded with a Chilean flamingo named Peachy from the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino’s free wildlife enclosure. Video evidence showed the drunk tourist carrying the bird by the neck into his hotel room after reportedly drinking 30 to 40 beers. His defense claimed the act was a harmless prank, but the jury, after reviewing 112 pieces of evidence and 14 witnesses, convicted him on felony and misdemeanor animal abuse charges. Fairbarn now faces up to five years in prison and remains under house arrest while awaiting sentencing in December. Veterinary exams report that Peachy has largely recovered but is now more wary around humans.
Canadian Tourist Found Guilty After Stealing Flamingo From Las Vegas Enclosure
In March, Mitchell Fairbarn, a 34‑year‑old visitor from Canada, lifted a Chilean flamingo named Peachy from the free‑to‑walk wildlife habitat inside the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. CCTV footage captured Fairbarn, visibly intoxicated after drinking 30‑40 beers, walking through the elevator with the bird clutched by the neck and heading toward his hotel room.
The trial, held in the Las Vegas County court, heard testimony from 14 witnesses and reviewed more than 112 pieces of evidence, including the hotel’s security footage. A panel of 12 jurors returned a guilty verdict after about five hours of deliberation, convicting Fairbarn on both felony and misdemeanour animal abuse charges. He now faces a potential sentence of up to nearly five years in prison, while remaining on house arrest with a sentencing hearing scheduled for December.
Animal experts testified that Peachy suffered torn feathers and blood loss during the abduction, but a state veterinarian reports that the bird has largely recovered, though it now displays increased anxiety around humans. Fairbarn’s lawyer, Josh Tomsheck, has stated that his client’s actions were a drunken “prank” and blamed alcohol for the poor decisions. Fairbarn himself claimed he was simply looking for something “funny” to do while exhausted from a night of heavy drinking and calls from his employer.
The incident has sparked discussions about animal welfare in hospitality venues and the responsibilities of tourists who engage in potentially harmful acts. Officials at the Flamingo Hotel have emphasized that their wildlife enclosure is for public enjoyment and must be respected as a protected habitat for the animals and guests alike.
