Canadian tourist says drunken flamingo prank caused bird’s injury
Mitchell Fairbairn, a Canadian tourist, told a Las Vegas court he had no intention of harming a flamingo he took from a hotel wildlife habitat to his room. He described the incident as a drunken prank, but acknowledged the bird was hurt; the case matters because he faces trial over the alleged theft and mistreatment of the animal.
Fairbairn, 34, said he drank about 30 to 40 beers before entering the habitat at around 5am on 3 March, then carried the flamingo, Peachy, to his room for two or three minutes. He said he was trying to take a photograph and planned to return the bird, but agreed he should not have entered the enclosure. Police reportedly found a bloody feather, while animal control said Peachy had a wing injury; closing arguments are expected on Monday.
- Tourist says taking Peachy was a drunken prank.
- He estimates drinking 30 to 40 beers beforehand.
- The flamingo was hurt; the jury will consider the case.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Fairbairn’s account, if accepted, supports the view that this was a reckless prank rather than a deliberate attempt to injure the bird: he said he intended to take a photograph and return Peachy, and acknowledged he should not have entered the habitat. His heavy drinking may help explain his poor judgement, though it does not excuse taking the flamingo or the injury that followed.
The case against
The bird’s welfare and the protection of animals in managed habitats support treating the incident as serious even if Fairbairn did not intend harm. He knowingly entered the enclosure and removed Peachy, and the reported bloody feather and wing injury are consistent with real consequences; a brief prank can still amount to mistreatment if it puts an animal at risk.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Tourist admits to drinking 30-40 beers before taking flamingo from Las Vegas casino back to his hotel room”.