‘It’s terrible’: Tourist accused of stealing, injuring flamingos at famed Las Vegas hotel

LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) — A Canadian tourist has been charged with animal cruelty after police say he stole a flamingo from a famed Las Vegas hotel.

Police identified the suspect as Mitchell Fairbarn, 33, of Ontario, Canada. According to an arrest report, he broke into the wildlife habitat at the Flamingo hotel-casino, dragged and cornered flamingos, before carrying one of the birds to his room.

Investigators said Fairbarn can be seen on surveillance video entering the habitat around 5 a.m. Tuesday, grabbing the flamingos as the birds are heard screaming and crying.

Fairbarn reportedly told police he was drunk and said he took the flamingo to his room to “pop” its wing back into place.

The 33-year-old was later taken into custody and charged with four counts of animal cruelty.

Fairbarn’s bail has been set at $12,000.

“It’s terrible. It’s terrible,” Hannah and Cody, visitors from Georgia, said. “He should have gotten a lot more punishment.”

Last year, Nevada passed a new law strengthening penalties for those convicted of abusing animals.

Signed by Gov. Joe Lombardo, Reba’s Law was inspired by the death of a dog named Reba, an English bulldog that died after being rescued from a sealed plastic container during extreme heat in 2024.

Under the law, “animal” does not include the human race but includes every other living creature.

This was also not 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 successfully completing 190 days in a program at the Indian Springs Correctional Facility and apologized for his actions.

Fairbarn currently remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center.

Caesars Entertainment, which owns the Flamingo, said the flamingos are in the care of their veterinary team and are hopeful the birds will make a full recovery.