Canadian tourist guilty of Las Vegas flamingo theft

A Canadian national has been formally convicted of animal cruelty offences following an incident where he removed a flamingo from its habitat in Las Vegas and transported it to his hotel room during a heavy drinking session. Thirty-four-year-old Mitchell Fairbarn faced trial after taking the bird from the wildlife enclosure located within the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino back in March.

During the court proceedings, jurors reviewed over 112 pieces of evidence and heard testimonies from 14 different witnesses over a five-hour deliberation period, according to CBS. CCTV footage presented during the trial captured a smiling Fairbarn gripping the Chilean flamingo, named Peachy, by the neck while riding an elevator up to his private accommodation.

Taking the stand in his own defense, Fairbarn stated that he had been drinking throughout the night and had just finished a phone call with a colleague when he decided to take the animal, believing at the time that it would be amusing. His defense attorney conceded that alcohol fueled the poor choices made that evening, adding that the defendant had encountered multiple death threats since his initial arrest.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

"The truth is, Mitch was drunk. Mitch was stupid. He made bad decisions."

Mitchell Fairbarn's lawyer

State animal experts and veterinarians testified that the flamingo suffered significant blood loss and had several feathers ripped out during the ordeal. Although Peachy has recovered physically for the most part, a state veterinarian noted that the bird now exhibits a considerably more anxious disposition whenever humans are nearby.