Canadian tourist tortures flamingo at US hotel for selfie

Serious charges for animal abuse are being faced by a 33-year-old tourist from Canada in the United States, as he allegedly grabbed a flamingo from an enclosed habitat and carried it to his hotel room. According to the Daily Mail, Mitchell Fairbarn from Ontario allegedly broke into the bird habitat area and took a Chilean flamingo named “Peachy.” During his removal from the area, according to the same reports, he allegedly injured other birds as well, while in one incident he allegedly immobilized a second flamingo, preventing it from escaping.

Security camera footage shows him half-naked entering an elevator while holding the bird wrapped in a shirt. In a subsequent frame, he appears holding it by the neck and legs in the hotel corridor, heading toward his room. He later claimed that he entered the habitat because he thought the flamingo was injured, asserting that he attempted to “properly position” its wing. He even told authorities that, as a farmer, he believes this is a practice applied to certain birds, such as ducks.

Injured flamingo required stitches – Heavy fine for the 33-year-old

However, according to police, photos and videos were found on his phone that allegedly show him choking the flamingo and throwing it to the floor. In one of the videos, he can be heard laughing and saying he would “take the bird home.” During the search of his hotel room, authorities also found a large bloodied wing along with other items. According to animal control services, the flamingo suffered serious wing injury and required stitches, while at least two more flamingos were injured in the habitat.

Fairbarn was arrested, banned from approaching the area where the birds are located again, while the court set bail at $12,000.