A 45-year-old Orlando man was arrested in Tampa Tuesday after he attacked a flamingo at Busch Gardens, the Tampa Police Department said.
Joseph Anthony Corrao is accused of injuring “Pinky” the flamingo so severely that veterinarians at the park’s Animal Care Center decided to euthanize her.
Corrao was detained at the scene by park security before police arrived and arrested him, the park said in a statement.
Police in Tampa did not immediately release details what caused Corrao to allegedly attack the bird.
Pinky, a 15-year-old Chilean flamingo, was one of Busch Gardens’ “animal ambassadors” and would often dance for visitors, the park said on its blog.
He was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and was being held at the Hillsborough County Jail in lieu of a $2,000 bond.
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