Washington, D.C. — Born Free USA, a global leader in wildlife conservation and animal welfare, mourns the death of Pinky the flamingo at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay from a brutal attack by a zoo visitor. The man reportedly grabbed Pinky and slammed her to the ground, nearly severing one of her feet and forcing veterinarians to euthanize her later that day due to the severity of the injuries.[teaserbreak]
According to Adam M. Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA, “This is clearly a senseless and despicable act by a depraved individual, and he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. However, we must also hold the zoo responsible for this tragedy. The pen Pinky was in allows the birds to walk up to people, without a sufficient barrier to ensure the safety of the animals. This is neither a safe nor a humane exhibit structure, and prioritizes entertainment for visitors over common sense.”
“This savage killing was not the only tragedy of Pinky’s life,” Roberts added. “She was consistently exploited by Busch Gardens under the guise of education. As a so-called ‘animal ambassador,’ she was paraded before crowds her whole life, including dancing the flamenco on TV and appearing at the 2012 Republican National Convention. This is a far cry from the life she would have lived in the wild, and certainly does not teach anyone about typical flamingo behaviors.”
This is not the first concerning incident at Busch Gardens, according to Born Free USA’s Exotic Animal Incidents Database. Last month, an orangutan named Luna got loose and was tranquilized with a dart. She also escaped her enclosure in 2008. This past June, a different orangutan escaped, as well. And, in 2002, a 350-pound African lion ripped the arm off a 21-year-old zookeeper while she was giving her family a private tour.
“How many deaths and injuries are too many?” Roberts continued. “The answer is that not even one is acceptable, and yet the zoo model has not evolved in response to clear safety and welfare deficiencies over and over again across the U.S. Pinky’s death was a preventable tragedy, and, as always, must serve as a lesson to keep wild animals where they belong: in the wild.”
Born Free USA is a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Through litigation, legislation, and public education, Born Free USA leads vital campaigns against animals in entertainment, exotic “pets,” trapping and fur, and the destructive international wildlife trade. Born Free USA brings to America the message of “compassionate conservation”: the vision of the U.K.-based Born Free Foundation, established in 1984 by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of the iconic film Born Free, along with their son, Will Travers. Born Free’s mission is to end suffering of wild animals in captivity, conserve threatened and endangered species, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. More at www.bornfreeusa.org, www.twitter.com/bornfreeusa, and www.facebook.com/bornfreeusa.
Media Contact: Rodi Rosensweig, 203/270-8929, TheRodiCompany@gmail.com