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Australia youths 'maul flamingo' | Australia youths 'maul flamingo' |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Four teenagers in Australia have been charged with an attack on an almost blind greater flamingo, thought to be one of the oldest of its kind alive. | |
Police and zoo officials said the flamingo's head and beak were injured and it was bleeding from an eye. | Police and zoo officials said the flamingo's head and beak were injured and it was bleeding from an eye. |
The bird, aged at least 75 years, is in a critical condition, zoo staff said. | The bird, aged at least 75 years, is in a critical condition, zoo staff said. |
The bird has been at the zoo for most of its life and, with its Chilean partner, has been one of Adelaide zoo's most popular exhibits. | The bird has been at the zoo for most of its life and, with its Chilean partner, has been one of Adelaide zoo's most popular exhibits. |
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. | 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 visitors at the zoo at the time of the attack had spoken about the incident with zoo staff and officers wanted to interview them, a spokesman said. | Several visitors at the zoo at the time of the attack had spoken about the incident with zoo staff and officers wanted to interview them, a spokesman said. |
The injured bird, described as tame and docile, was sedated after the attack and taken to a local veterinary clinic where its condition was reported to have improved overnight. | The injured bird, described as tame and docile, was sedated after the attack and taken to a local veterinary clinic where its condition was reported to have improved overnight. |
The exact age of the flamingo remains unknown, as proper records from his arrival in the 1930s do not exist. | The exact age of the flamingo remains unknown, as proper records from his arrival in the 1930s do not exist. |
"The bird arrived at the zoo in 1933 and was a mature bird at that stage," a spokeswoman for the zoo told Agence France Presse. | "The bird arrived at the zoo in 1933 and was a mature bird at that stage," a spokeswoman for the zoo told Agence France Presse. |
"So although we don't know its exact age it is at least 75 years old - much older than they grow in the wild," the spokeswoman said. | "So although we don't know its exact age it is at least 75 years old - much older than they grow in the wild," the spokeswoman said. |
"Although undoubtedly the oldest flamingo in the world its quality of life is very good," the zoo's website says. | "Although undoubtedly the oldest flamingo in the world its quality of life is very good," the zoo's website says. |
Public outrage | Public outrage |
Zoo bird keeper Vaughan Wilson was quoted as saying the birds had been popular partly because they were accessible to the public. | Zoo bird keeper Vaughan Wilson was quoted as saying the birds had been popular partly because they were accessible to the public. |
But he said the knee-high fence separating the flamingos from the crowd had always caused concern. | But he said the knee-high fence separating the flamingos from the crowd had always caused concern. |
Australian newspapers reported that the attack had caused public outrage and that radio talk shows were overwhelmed by calls. | Australian newspapers reported that the attack had caused public outrage and that radio talk shows were overwhelmed by calls. |
Adelaide zoo has had its share of brutal incidents before: in 1985, two men broke in and killed 64 animals. | Adelaide zoo has had its share of brutal incidents before: in 1985, two men broke in and killed 64 animals. |
In November 2006, a pair of valuable African grey parrots was stolen, seven months after the theft of a baby meerkat called Wanda. | In November 2006, a pair of valuable African grey parrots was stolen, seven months after the theft of a baby meerkat called Wanda. |
A rare squirrel monkey was also taken in 2004. | A rare squirrel monkey was also taken in 2004. |
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