Pinky, a flamenco-dancing flamingo and animal ambassador at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, has died after being attacked by a park guest, authorities said.
Tampa police said witnesses reported seeing Joseph Anthony Carrao reaching into the flamingo pen, picking up the bird and “throwing the flamingo to the ground.”
Pinky, a 19-year-old Chilean flamingo, suffered traumatic injuries, a park statement said. She was swiftly transported to the park’s Animal Care Center, but veterinarians had to euthanize her due to the severity of her injuries, the park said.
We are taking this “extremely hard” and it’s a “very sad day for us all,” said Karen Varga-Sinka, a spokeswoman for Busch Gardens.
Pinky was known for her dancing. According to her keepers, “this is not a trained behavior, but a natural behavior she loves to show off,” Varga-Sinka said.
Carrao was arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty, the Tampa Police Department said. He’s being held on $2,000 bond.
It was not clear if Carrao had an attorney.
