Canadian tourist in the U.S. accused of kidnapping and torturing a flamingo at a hotel
A Canadian tourist in Las Vegas is facing four counts of felony animal abuse after police say he stole a flamingo from a hotel and casino where he was staying, took the bird back to his room and injured it.
Numerous local reports say the man, a 33-year-old from Ontario, was a guest at the Flamingo Las Vegas, a 28-storey complex run by Caesars Entertainment . The property includes a wildlife habitat featuring flamingos and other exotic birds.
According to local station 8 News Now , local police received a call on March 3 about a man who allegedly broke into the wildlife habitat and injured several birds.
News reports are that police reviewed surveillance footage that showed the man entering the habitat at around 5 a.m. and grabbing a bird named “Peachy.” He allegedly injured other animals in the process, before returning to a hotel room with the animal, police said.
The man allegedly admitted to police that he trespassed into the habitat after seeing a flamingo in distress, and that he “popped” the bird’s wing into place.
“He stated he knows that ‘popping’ the wing back into its place [is] a common practice for birds, such as ducks,” police said, per 8 News Now. “He has knowledge of this because he is a farm boy.”
However, police also said they found photos and videos on the man’s phone of him with the animal, including him torturing it. In one video, he said was taking the bird home.
Police also told the outlet they located “a large bloody feather” in the hotel room.
According to the Daily Mail newspaper , Peachy is said to have suffered a wing injury due to the wing being ‘pulled’ from its body, resulting in stitches.
During a hearing the next day, Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Suzan Baucum set bail at US$12,000 and ordered the man to surrender his passport. 8 News Now said that court records show he posted bond.
The hotel website says its four-acre wildlife habitat “is home to a flock of Chilean Flamingos, multiple species of exotic waterfowl, and Brown Pelicans.” It adds: “You’ll also find impressive Sturgeon, Koi, Albino Catfish, turtles as well as some of our local songbirds. Native hummingbirds dazzle our guests with up close encounters at our feeders, as they are year-round residents of the Southwest.”
In a statement, Caesars said it was aware of the incident, adding: “We will be pursuing charges against this individual to the fullest extent possible.”
“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,” Caesars said. “We remain hopeful they will make a full recovery.”
According to the website Casino.org , a UC Berkeley law student was convicted in 2012 of beheading a guinea fowl on the property and was sentenced to probation. And in 2005 police, accompanied by a camera crew from the TV show Cops, prevented two drunk men from stealing a flamingo there.
The Canadian tourist was next scheduled to appear in court on Monday, March 9.
National Post has reached out to Las Vegas police and courts for further information.
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