A vacation in Las Vegas took an ugly turn when a 33-year-old Canadian tourist was arrested for allegedly breaking into the Flamingo hotel’s wildlife habitat, chasing several birds, and carrying one back to his 14th-floor room. The incident, captured on both surveillance cameras and the suspect’s own cellphone, has drawn public anger and put a spotlight on animal safety at one of the Strip’s most famous attractions.
- Mitchell Fairbarn, 33, of Ontario, Canada, faces four counts of felony animal abuse, according to court records.
- Surveillance footage showed Fairbarn entering the bird habitat around 5 a.m. and grabbing a bird named “Peachy,” while also injuring other animals in the process.
- Caesars Entertainment, which owns the Flamingo, said the flamingos are in the care of their veterinary team and they’re hopeful the birds will make a full recovery.
What Happened at the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat
According to an arrest report, surveillance video shows Fairbarn entered the habitat around 5 a.m. Tuesday, grabbed the flamingos, dragged them, and cornered them. The first flamingo he targeted eventually escaped and swam away.
About seven minutes later, police allege Fairbarn went after a second flamingo. Investigators say he waded into the water, chased several birds and eventually grabbed one, dragging it across the habitat and holding it by its legs and neck while it tried to break free. Fairbarn was then seen walking into a hallway with the flamingo wrapped in a grey shirt before entering an elevator and travelling to the 14th floor.
The bird he took was a Chilean flamingo named Peachy. Whether you’re visiting Las Vegas, Indianapolis, or any city with protected wildlife, the idea of someone physically snatching an animal from its home and bringing it into a hotel room is hard to fathom. And the evidence police gathered painted a grim picture of what happened next.
What Police Found on His Phone and in His Room
Investigators obtained a search warrant for Fairbarn’s hotel room later that day. Police say the warrant allowed officers to seize items including bedding, blood samples, feathers, clothing and his cellphone. A large bloody feather along with multiple small pink colored feathers were found in the room.
Fairbarn’s cellphone contained photos and videos of him with the flamingo in his hotel room, including footage of him choking it and throwing it to the floor while laughing. In one video, he choked a flamingo’s neck as the bird screamed and cried, records indicated. Fairbarn was also seen laughing in the video, reportedly saying he planned to take the bird home as he walked back to his room.
Animal control advised that Fairbarn injured the bird when he allegedly pulled the wing out of the bird’s body. He also clipped the wing of a bird he was chasing and trying to pin down in the habitat, causing the bird to suffer pain and require stitches.
The Suspect’s Explanation and Arrest
Fairbarn allegedly admitted to police that he trespassed into the bird habitat after seeing a flamingo in distress. He told police he “popped” the bird’s wing into place, stating he knows that popping the wing back into its place is a common practice for birds, such as ducks. Police said he told them that he was drunk and couldn’t remember chasing birds.
Fairbarn was arrested on March 3 at about 6 a.m. Court documents list Fairbarn’s residence as Sutherland, Ont., though no such town exists. Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Suzan Baucum ordered at a Wednesday hearing that Fairbarn’s bail would remain at $12,000, the booking amount for his charges. The judge ordered him to have no animals in his possession and to surrender his passport.
Fairbarn, who was ordered to stay away from the Strip after he posted bond, is scheduled to appear in court on March 9.
A Troubling Pattern at This Famous Attraction
Flamingos are federally protected birds and can live for decades. The Flamingo resort’s Wildlife Habitat opened in 1995 and features streams, waterfalls, turtles and fish in addition to exotic birds.
This isn’t the first time an animal has been harmed at the Flamingo’s wildlife habitat. In 2012, Justin Teixeira beheaded an exotic bird at the property while drunk. Teixeira, then 25, was convicted and sentenced to six months of boot camp after completing 190 days in a program at the Indian Springs Correctional Facility. He apologized for killing Turk, a helmeted guinea fowl that was part of the hotel’s wildlife habitat.
Caesars Entertainment condemned the incident, saying the company is cooperating with law enforcement. Peachy and the other affected birds are currently in the care of veterinarians and the Flamingo animal care team, and the company remains hopeful they’ll make a full recovery.
Why Cases Like This Matter for Animal Protection
Animals in public-facing habitats are vulnerable to abuse, even in heavily monitored locations like the Las Vegas Strip. The charges Fairbarn faces are serious. Four felony counts of animal abuse in Nevada can carry steep penalties, and Caesars Entertainment has made it clear they intend to push for the harshest possible punishment. For Peachy and the other birds, recovery is the focus now. For everyone else, it’s a gut-wrenching story that shows why wildlife protections and habitat security need to be taken seriously, no matter where the animals live.
