Pinky the Flamingo’s Death: SeaWorld Pushing for ‘Zero-Tolerance’

TAMPA, FL — The death of Busch Gardens’ Pinky the flamingo has resulted in a swift response from the theme park’s owners. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is urging “authorities to pursue the case with vigor.”

Pinky, a Chilean flamingo, was euthanized Tuesday after a park visitor allegedly picked her up and threw her to the ground. The bird’s foot was nearly severed, the Tampa Police Department reported in a Wednesday email to media.

Joseph Anthony Corrao, 45, of Orlando has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals. His bond, initially set at $2,000, was raised to $5,000 after a first appearance in court. Corrao remained in the Hillsborough County Jail Thursday morning.

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“SeaWorld will strongly urge prosecution in this case, and for any person who engages in this sort of cruel behavior towards animals,” Joel Manby, president and CEO of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, said in a statement. “Pinky was a beloved member of the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay family, and she will be sorely missed. Our Ambassador team members are appalled by this incident, and I am sure they share my view that our state must have a zero-tolerance policy for this kind of cruelty.”

The Humane Society of the United States also issued a statement following Pinky’s death.

“People who abuse animals often don’t stop there, and pose a violent risk to the rest of society,” Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the society, said in a statement. “That’s why we’ve worked to fortify the legal framework across the country to punish malicious animal cruelty as a serious offense.”

Court dates in Corrao’s case haven’t been set, according to county records. His first appearance, which resulted in an increase in bond amount, was before Judge John N. Conrad.

The incident that led to Corrao’s arrest began to unfold around 6:44 p.m. Tuesday. According to Tampa Police, Corrao was visiting Busch Gardens with his mother, brother and three teenage children. While in the Jambo Junction Animal Viewing Area, Corrao is accused of picking up a flamingo. Police say Corrao put that bird down, but then picked up Pinky.

"Witnesses and his mother told him to leave the flamingos alone," an email from the police department said. "Witnesses said Corrao then threw the flamingo to the ground, causing serious injury to the flamingo whose foot was nearly severed."

Pinky suffered serious injuries, police said, and had to be euthanized. Pinky was one of the park's "animal ambassadors." She was known to dance for park visitors, a performance often captured on video.

"Like all flamingos, she loves warm, tropical weather," Busch Gardens said of Pinky on its YouTube channel in 2011. "However, unlike wild flamingos, and even our other flamingo ambassadors, Pinky loves to dance for our guests! Her keepers say that this is not a trained behavior, but a natural behavior she loves to show off."

If convicted on the third-degree felony animal cruelty charge, Corrao could face fines up to $10,000 and up to five years in prison, according to Florida statutes.

Photo of Pinky courtesy of Busch Gardens