A judge in Hillsborough County on Wednesday sided with prosecutors who asked him to raise the bond of 45-year-old John Corrao from $2,000 to $5,000. In front of multiple witnesses including his own mother, Judge John Conrad said Corrao allegedly reached in to an enclosure at Busch Gardens Tuesday evening, grabbed a Chilean flamingo named “Pinky” and slammed it to the ground so hard it’s foot was nearly severed.“It’s beyond senseless,” Conrad told Corrao. “It actually borders on depraved in my opinion Mr. Corrao. I don’t know if you have other issues. But I don’t know who does that.”Corrao is charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals. The flamingo’s injuries were so severe, it was later euthanized.In open court, prosecutors said Corrao had just been released from prison in 2015 after serving time for aggravated assault. Outside his east Orange County home, a woman who would not identify herself put a purse in front of her face and would not comment on the case.Neighbors were shocked to hear of the allegations and said if they’re true Corrao should be facing charges.“Ya, I think they’re justified,” said neighbor Valeria Morrell as she backed out of her driveway directly across the street from Corrao’s home. “It’s sad the bird had to get euthanized. It didn’t deserve that.”A spokeswoman for Busch Gardens said in an email employees are taking the loss of their beloved animal ambassador hard.“Pinky made many appearances on behalf of the park’s conservation and education efforts,” wrote Aimee Jeansonne Becka, the park’s Senior Director of Corporate Communications.A YouTube video shows the brightly-colored pink bird dancing around in circles in what zoo officials called the "Flamingo Flamenco."

A judge in Hillsborough County on Wednesday sided with prosecutors who asked him to raise the bond of 45-year-old John Corrao from $2,000 to $5,000. In front of multiple witnesses including his own mother, Judge John Conrad said Corrao allegedly reached in to an enclosure at Busch Gardens Tuesday evening, grabbed a Chilean flamingo named “Pinky” and slammed it to the ground so hard it’s foot was nearly severed.

“It’s beyond senseless,” Conrad told Corrao. “It actually borders on depraved in my opinion Mr. Corrao. I don’t know if you have other issues. But I don’t know who does that.”


Corrao is charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals. The flamingo’s injuries were so severe, it was later euthanized.

In open court, prosecutors said Corrao had just been released from prison in 2015 after serving time for aggravated assault. Outside his east Orange County home, a woman who would not identify herself put a purse in front of her face and would not comment on the case.

Neighbors were shocked to hear of the allegations and said if they’re true Corrao should be facing charges.

“Ya, I think they’re justified,” said neighbor Valeria Morrell as she backed out of her driveway directly across the street from Corrao’s home. “It’s sad the bird had to get euthanized. It didn’t deserve that.”

A spokeswoman for Busch Gardens said in an email employees are taking the loss of their beloved animal ambassador hard.

“Pinky made many appearances on behalf of the park’s conservation and education efforts,” wrote Aimee Jeansonne Becka, the park’s Senior Director of Corporate Communications.

A YouTube video shows the brightly-colored pink bird dancing around in circles in what zoo officials called the "Flamingo Flamenco."