Teens charged over attack on 75-year-old blind flamingo

[THUNDER HANDS]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=081030070126.g8s7l0pr&show_article=1

Four Australian teenagers were charged Thursday with attacking an almost blind greater flamingo that is believed to be the oldest bird of its kind in the world, police and zoo officials said.
The flamingo's head and beak were injured and it was bleeding from an eye after the attack at Adelaide Zoo that left it in a critical condition, zoo staff said.

"The bird arrived at the zoo in 1933 and was a mature bird at that stage," a spokeswoman for the zoo told AFP. "So although we don't know it's exact age it is at least 75 years old -- much older than they grow in the wild."

The zoo's website describes the bird as "undoubtedly the oldest flamingo in the world," adding that despite its great age its quality of life was very good.


Police said four men aged between 17 and 19 were charged with aggravated ill-treatment of an animal and released on bail to appear in court at a later date.

Several people at the zoo at the time of the attack had spoken about the incident with staff and officers wanted to interview them, a spokesman said.

The elderly bird, described as unafraid of humans, had a habit of coming close to the edge of his enclosure.

Known only as Flamingo One, he was sedated after the attack and was taken to the animal hospital where his condition was reported to be improving.

"He's just an icon, he's the oldest resident of the zoo, he's just a symbol of the beauty of nature," said the zoo's chief executive Chris West.

Zoo officials said the shocking attack had left them concerned for the wellbeing of a second flamingo -- the older bird's only companion for more than 50 years.

[Crazy Dave]

1. AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!

:mad: :nuke:

[BarenakedLady]

2. I'll never understand humans.

:-(

[Blue_Tires]

3. wow...only a couple of weeks after that kid

broke into the zoo and fed rare animals to the crocs...

what is it with this contempt of wildlife?

[blueraven95]

4. ....

:cry:


I don't understand how anyone could think this is okay.

[DS1]

5. I know this sounds silly, in light of it being a single bird, but

just kill them, cut them up, and feed them to the other animals in the zoo.

[Gormy Cuss]

6. I was thinking we should give them one way tickets to San Francisco

so that they can taunt the tigers before the zoo updates the cage enclosure.

[undeterred]

11. The perps or the flamingoes?

[lukasahero]

7. WTF is wrong with people?

:grr:

[fishwax]

8. wow, what a great bird

And what assholes the attackers must be. :grr:

[SteppingRazor]

9. I only support the abuse of flamingos if...

it's to use them as croquet mallets.





Seriously, though, that's some fucked up shit right there. Who slaps around an elderly bird? I mean, seriously?

[Taverner]

10. This is so fucked up

To add some levity, I only support plastic flamingo abuse. not real flamingo abuse

Why the fuck would you hurt such a harmless animal?

I've "met" flamingos before. They're sweet birds, and I am not a bird fan.

[busybl]

12. I hate humans sometimes

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

13. I wonder if

alcohol was involved? Stupid shitheads..........

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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