Published on: March 4, 2026, 09:38h.
Updated on: March 5, 2026, 08:41h.
- A Canadian vacationer faces felony charges for mistreating a flamingo he took from a Vegas Strip resort.
- Mitchell Fairbarn, 33, allegedly assaulted and threw the bird, known as Peachy, inside his hotel room.
- A judge set bail at $12,000 and mandated Fairbarn to surrender his passport.
A Canadian traveler is now facing serious animal cruelty charges after police reported he mistreated a flamingo in his hotel room. Mitchell Fairbarn from Ontario entered the Flamingo Las Vegas wildlife habitat early Tuesday morning.
Fairbarn, 33, was arrested shortly after the incident and faces four charges relating to the torture, maiming, or killing of an animal kept for companionship or pleasure. As reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, he remained behind bars as of Wednesday afternoon.
Security footage reviewed by investigators captured Fairbarn entering the habitat before sunrise, attempting to catch multiple birds. Authorities reported that he first chased a flamingo and injured its wing before pursuing another — Peachy, a long-standing resident of the resort’s outdoor sanctuary.
The video allegedly shows Fairbarn hiding Peachy under his shirt and jacket, navigating an elevator with another man. (Fairbarn is the only one charged.) Upon exiting the elevator on the 14th floor, witnesses reported he laughed and exclaimed, “I’m taking it home.”
Inside Fairbarn’s hotel room, police stated that they gathered evidence through photos and videos from the suspect’s phone, showing him choking and throwing Peachy onto the floor. While Peachy screeched, witnesses reported that Fairbarn laughed.
Officers described Peachy as being distressed but alive when they arrived. Along with the injured flamingo, Peachy was placed under the care of veterinarians associated with the resort. Fairbarn informed police he had popped the flamingo’s wing back in place, believing he was helping, but authorities indicated that the bird required stitches.
Fairbarn mentioned to officers that he had been drinking heavily and did not recall much of the incident, although he admitted that his actions were “disgusting,” according to reports.
A judge in Las Vegas set Fairbarn’s bail at $12,000 and mandated that he surrender his passport, refrain from entering the Strip, avoid all animals, and wear an electronic monitor if released.
Caesars Entertainment, the owner of the Flamingo, referred to the incident as “deeply concerning” in a statement released Wednesday evening.
“Our cherished birds, including Peachy, are under the care of committed veterinarians and our animal-care team,” the company stated. “We are hopeful for their complete recovery.”
Recurring Issues
The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat covers 15 acres of the resort’s 19-acre property and is home to numerous exotic birds, including around a dozen flamingos, as well as koi fish and turtles. This popular free attraction has occasionally attracted negative attention.
Back in 2012, a UC Berkeley law student faced conviction for beheading a guinea fowl on the premises. He received probation and was required to participate in a 190-day “regimental discipline” program within the Nevada Department of Corrections. Other law students involved in that case also accepted plea deals and served two days in jail.
Additionally, in 2005, police, along with a filming crew from the TV show Cops, famously intercepted two intoxicated men who were trying to steal a flamingo.