Jun 14 
 
 We call this dance the “Flamingo Flamenco”. 
 
 Meet our diva extraordinaire, Pinky. 
 
 Pinky is a 19-year-old Chilean Flamingo, and, like all flamingos, she loves warm, tropical weather. 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. Flamingos are filter feeders, using their beaks to strain tasty morsels out of the water around them as they wade. To stir up the tastiest treats, flamingos will stamp their webbed feet. Pinky often performs this toe-tapping behavior out of the water for guests. She loves to get her groove on and enjoys the attention of her adoring fans. 
 
 What does Pinky eat? 
 
 In nature, flamingos eat blue-green and red algae, insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish. It’s the vitamins and nutrients in these food items that give flamingos the coloration they’re famous for. At Busch Gardens, the flamingos’ diet provides the same nutrition as their natural food sources, and comes in powdered and pellet forms. Newly hatched flamingo chicks have grey or creamy white down feathers –it takes 2-3 years for them to develop their trademark pink pigment from their carotenoid rich diet. 
 
 Why do flamingos stand on one leg? 
 
 Because if they lifted the other one, they would fall! Hahaha. All jokes aside, it is believed that flamingos will stand on one leg for a couple of reasons. The process of circulating blood all the way from the heart down to each leg costs a lot of energy. Flamingos can conserve some of that energy while resting, by tucking one leg up underneath their wing. And when it’s chilly outside, this is also an effective technique to stay warm! 
 
 Flamingo conservation 
 
 While Pinky has a safe and loving home here at Busch Gardens, the rest of her species is suffering from habitat loss and exploitation. Adult flamingos are prey to several predators, including man, and the population trend of Chilean Flamingos is described as “decreasing” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). If you would like to see our beautiful flocks of flamingos here at the park, you can find them in several places… 

 TAMPA, FL (WFLA) — An Orlando man has been arrested for picking up, and throwing a beloved flamingo named “Pinky” to the ground at Busch Gardens Tampa on Tuesday. Pinky’s injuries were so severe, she had to be euthanized. 
 
 Investigators say 45-year-old Joseph Anthony Corrao was with his family, including his mother, his brother, and three teenage children. While at the Jambo Junction animal viewing area, Corrao reached into an animal pen and picked up a flamingo and then set it down uninjured. He then picked up a second flamingo. Witnesses and his mother told him to leave the flamingos alone. 
 
 According to police, witnesses said Corrao then threw the flamingo to the ground, causing serious injury to the flamingo, whose foot was nearly severed. 
 
 Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has more than 250 flamingos, but “Pinky” the Flamingo was very special. She made many appearances across the Tampa Bay area as a part of the park’s conservation and education efforts. 
 
 The crime has many people wondering how anyone could do something so heartless, even 13th Judicial Circuit Judge John Conrad, who presided over the suspect’s first appearance Wednesday morning. “It’s beyond senseless. It is actually depraved in my opinion, Mr. Corrao,” said Judge Conrad at the hearing. 
 
 Judge Conrad didn’t mince words, upping Corrao’s bond to $5,000 at the hearing. “Apparently, your mother yelled at you to put the bird down… According to multiple witnesses, you threw the bird down to the ground with such force, the bird’s foot was [almost] severed and they had to euthanize the flamingo,” said Judge Conrad. 
 
 Flamingos are friendly and docile birds, so much so they will walk right up to people at Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg, which houses 22 birds on their property. 
 
 “They are very docile, they can’t even bite, Their beak is really just used for filtering…they really can’t protect themselves,” said Bill O’Grady of Sunken Gardens. Last week, Sunken Gardens installed a bamboo barrier to prevent people from reaching over and touching the animals there. 
 
 As for Corrao’s motive, that is “the question of the day”, according to the Tampa Police Department. Spokesman Steve Hegarty tells News Channel 8 there is no apparent motive right now, but that witnesses are being interviewed. 
 
 Busch Gardens released the following statement: 
 
 Yesterday evening at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, an adult male guest attacked one of our animal ambassadors, a Chilean flamingo known as Pinky, causing traumatic injuries. Pinky was immediately transported to the park’s Animal Care Center where veterinarians made the decision to humanely euthanize her based on the severity of her injuries. Pinky was a beloved member of the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay family and made many appearances on behalf of the park’s conservation and education efforts. She will be sorely missed. 
 
 SeaWorld and the Humane Society of the United States released a joint statement on Wednesday condemning the attack. 
 
 “SeaWorld will strongly urge prosecution in this case, and for any person who engages in this sort of cruel behavior towards animals,” said Joel Manby, president and CEO of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “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.” 
 
 Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, added “People who abuse animals often don’t stop there, and pose a violent risk to the rest of society. That’s why we’ve worked to fortify the legal framework across the country to punish malicious animal cruelty as a serious offense.” 
 
 This is the third time Busch Gardens has made recent headlines, in June, an orangutan escaped from its enclosure. Then in July, an orangutan escaped from its enclosure. 
 
 MORE NEWS FROM BUSCH GARDENS: 
 
 Busch Gardens in Tampa lures Pokemon Go players to park 
 
 VIDEO: Orangutan escapes enclosure at Busch Gardens, is captured 
 
 VIDEO: Man catches ducklings falling from 30 ft. ledge at Busch Gardens 
 
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 She never had the chance for one last dance. 
 
 Pinky, a 19-year-old dancing Chilean flamingo at Busch Gardens in Tampa, had to be euthanized Tuesday after an alleged attack by a 45-year-old Orlando man, according to Tampa police. 
 
 Joseph Anthony Corrao, 45, was at the park with his family in the Jambo Junction animal viewing area about 6:45 p.m. when he reached into the animal pen, grabbed one flamingo and put it back down, police said. Then he grabbed Pinky and other guests told him he "shouldn't do that," according to police. He threw her to the ground, causing a foot to nearly sever, police said. 
 
 Pinky was taken to the animal care center, but had to be euthanized due to the extent of her injuries, Busch Gardens said in a statement. 
 
 "Pinky was a beloved member of the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay family and made many appearances on behalf of the park's conservation and education efforts," a spokeswoman for Busch Gardens said. "She will be sorely missed." 
 
 A dancing flamingo named Pinky had to be euthanized on Tuesday after an Orlando man allegedly attacked her at Busch Gardens in Tampa, according to police. Joseph Anthony Corrao, 45, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty. A dancing flamingo named Pinky had to be euthanized on Tuesday after an Orlando man allegedly attacked her at Busch Gardens in Tampa, according to police. Joseph Anthony Corrao, 45, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty. SEE MORE VIDEOS 
 
 She was well-known for her dancing, which her keepers said was "not a trained behavior, but a natural behavior she loved to show off." 
 
 Dubbed the "Flamingo Flamenco," Pinky would stomp her feet while turning in a circle. A video of the dance posted to YouTube has nearly 200,000 views. 
 
 Pinky, who would have turned 20 next month, started dancing at about age 2. 
 
 "While making an appearance with Jack Hanna, the team noticed that she was dancing on her own to get attention," said Busch Gardens spokeswoman Karen Varga-Sinka. "Since then, she has danced for countless guests, school groups, media appearances and national television shows." 
 
 Police say Joseph Anthony Corrao, right, attacked Pinky the dancing flamingo, left, during a recent trip to Busch Gardens in Tampa. Pinky had to be euthanized. Police say Joseph Anthony Corrao, right, attacked Pinky the dancing flamingo, left, during a recent trip to Busch Gardens in Tampa. Pinky had to be euthanized. 
 
 It's not clear why Corrao picked up the flamingo, but several patrons saw him throw her down "violently," a Tampa police spokesman said. 
 
 Corrao was arrested and charged with animal cruelty. 
 
 He served time in prison after he was convicted of fatally shooting two of his neighbor's dogs at point-blank range, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Corrao told authorities the dogs killed his daughter's rabbits. 
 
 During his first appearance, a judge said Corrao's alleged action "borders on depraved" and was "beyond senseless." He was being held at a Tampa jail Wednesday afternoon on $5,000 bond. 
 
 SeaWorld, the owner of Busch Gardens, and The Humane Society of the United States condemned the attack. 
 
 According to the Florida Department of Corrections, Corrao served two years in prison for willfully fleeing and eluding law enforcement; driving under the influence, third conviction; and aggravated assault of a person 65 years or older charges out of Columbia County in north Florida. He was released last year. 
 
 dharris@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5471 

 Updated: Aug 3, 2016 - 11:47 PM 
 
 TAMPA, Fla. - A 45-year-old Orlando man was arrested in Tampa Tuesday after he attacked a flamingo at Busch Gardens, the Tampa Police Department said. 
 
 Joseph Anthony Corrao is accused of injuring “Pinky” the flamingo so severely that veterinarians at the park’s Animal Care Center decided to euthanize her. 
 
 The attack happened at about 6:44 p.m. Tuesday while Corrao was at Busch Gardens' Jambo Junction Animal Viewing Area, Tampa police said. 
 
 © 2017 Cox Media Group. 
 
 In front of several witnesses, Corrao reached into the animal pen, picked up the 19-year-old flamingo and then violently threw her to the ground, investigators said. 
 
 Corrao was detained at the scene by park security before police arrived and arrested him, the park said in a statement. 
 
 Police in Tampa did not say what they believe prompted the attack. 
 
 Pinky, a 19-year-old Chilean flamingo, was one of Busch Gardens’ “animal ambassadors” and would often dance for visitors, the park said on its blog. 
 
 Raw: Alleged flamingo thrower in court 
 
 Corrao was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and was being held at the Hillsborough County Jail in lieu of a $5,000 bond. 
 
 “According to multiple witnesses, one, two, three, four, five witnesses, you threw the bird down to the ground with such force, the bird’s foot was nearly severed,” said the judge. 
 
 The judge said Corrao’s mother tried to get him to stop. 
 
 “I don’t know who does that, I really don’t. I don’t relate to that, mentally on any level,” the judge told Corrao. 
 
 Watch: Busch Gardens' "Pinky" the dancing flamingo performs 
 
 Carrao didn’t say a word as the judge questioned him about the crime. 
 
 “It’s beyond senseless. It actually borders on depraved in my opinion, Mr. Corrao. I don’t know if you have any other issues, but I don’t know who does that,” the judge said. 
 
 Corrao was released from prison in 2015 after serving a two-year sentence on aggravated assault and fleeing from law enforcement officers, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. 
 
 In 2013, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office charged Carrao with aggravated assault and cruelty to animals. 
 
 His criminal history goes on for 20 years. 
 
 .@BuschGardens most popular flamingo has died after police say an #Orlando man attacked her. New details on #WFTVat4 pic.twitter.com/jMo2uYk7Qj — Cuthbert Langley (@CLangleyWFTV) August 3, 2016 
 
 © 2017 Cox Media Group. 

 Uploaded by buschgardensflorida on 
 
 Pinky is a 15 year old Chilean Flamingo, and, like all flamingos, she loves warm, tropical weather. 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. Flamingos are filter feeders, using their beaks to strain tasty morsels out of the water around them as they wade. To stir up the tastiest treats, flamingos will stamp their webbed feet. Pinky often performs this toe-tapping behavior out of the water for guests. She loves to get her groove on and enjoys the attention of her adoring fans. We call this dance the "Flamingo Flamenco": 

 TAMPA — Flamingos stomp their feet to bring delicious critters to the water's surface. But when Pinky did it, people were entertained. She was one of Busch Garden's animal ambassadors, danced the flamenco on TV and delighted delegates at the 2012 Republican National Convention. 
 
 Pinky the flamingo died Tuesday, police said, after she was attacked by a park patron. 
 
 Tampa police said Joseph Corrao, 45, grabbed her pink-feathered body and violently slammed Pinky to the ground about 6:44 p.m. Tuesday — in front of his own mother and three children. 
 
 Pinky was badly injured, police said, one of her feet nearly severed. Busch Gardens veterinarians had to euthanize her late Tuesday. The Chilean flamingo was 19, about to turn 20 next month. 
 
 Corrao, of Orlando, was arrested on a charge of felony animal cruelty — a year and 15 days after his release from prison on charges that he shot and killed two chained dogs at point-blank range with a shotgun. 
 
 He lived in Lake City, according to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, when in 2013 he executed his neighbor's dogs — he blamed them for killing his daughter's rabbits — and threatened a witness. 
 
 Police said Corrao was visiting Busch Gardens with his family on Tuesday when he reached into an animal pen at Jambo Junction and picked up a flamingo. But he set that bird down, leaving it unharmed. 
 
 Then police said he grabbed Pinky. Tampa police it was unclear why Corrao grabbed the bird, or if alcohol was a factor. But a witness told WFTS-Ch. 28 that Corrao laughed afterward. 
 
 Hillsborough County Judge John Conrad called out Corrao during his first appearance in court Wednesday. The judge noted that Corrao's own mother, who went to Busch Gardens with the family, yelled at her grown son to put the bird down. 
 
 "It's beyond senseless," Conrad said, according to a video feed of the court hearing. "It actually borders on depraved in my opinion. . . . I don't know if have you other issues, but I don't know who does that." 
 
 He then set Corrao's bail at $5,000. 
 
 Corrao has a long history of arrests in Florida, records show, starting at the age of 25 with drug charges. He has also faced charges of hit and run, child abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a child, driving under the influence, DUI with serious bodily injury and burglary. 
 
 The day before Pinky died, Corrao wrote on Facebook about how excited he was to see a Tampa Bay Rays game with his two sons. He said they had box seats. 
 
 He wrote: "all u can drink and eat free," and "i will be tepsy tonight." 
 
 Facebook friends did not seem pleased with that status update. They told him to "behave himself" and "make a good impression for your kids." 
 
 To which Corrao responded: "I've never been to jail in Tampa." 
 
 Corrao was still being held in the Hillsborough County jail on Wednesday. 
 
 Pinky was mourned across Tampa Bay and on social media as the story of her death went viral. 
 
 "Pinky was a beloved member of the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay family and made many appearances on behalf of the park's conservation and education efforts," a park statement said. "She will be sorely missed." 
 
 It has never been easy to be a flamingo in Florida. 
 
 The birds may love the tropical climate, but at the turn of the 20th century hunting the American flamingo was at a peak, said Jerry Lorenz, state director of research for Audubon Florida. 
 
 "They were likely hunted into extinction," he said. 
 
 Flamingos have been spotted in South Florida, likely flying to Florida Bay from Mexico, according to Lorenz. But those sightings are sparse and irregular. 
 
 There aren't many Chilean flamingos like Pinky left, either. Native to South America, the Chilean birds stand between 3 to 4 feet tall and can live up to the age of 50 or so. 
 
 Busch Gardens has more than 250 flamingos on its campus, according to its website. Most roam in the "bird gardens," where visitors can't get too close. 
 
 FURTHER COVERAGE:Should Busch Gardens change how it secures its birds? 
 
 Busch Gardens spokeswoman Karen Varga-Sinka did not respond to requests for comment about whether the park will increase security around the flamingos' habitat, or answer any questions about Tuesday's incident. 
 
 Bill Androckitis, a theme park writer and enthusiast, said the pen set up for flamingos at the Jambo Junction viewing area, where Pinky was attacked, allows the birds to walk up to people. 
 
 "But usually if you put your hand out, they'll run away," he said. 
 
 A bird like Pinky probably isn't as afraid of people. She's around them more often than most birds, he said. 
 
 "Likely, it wasn't an issue for her to be approached," he said. "But I just can't, I don't understand. 
 
 "To do that to any animal in the wild or in Busch Gardens is a despicable thing." 
 
 Times senior news researcher John Martin and staff writer Claire McNeill contributed to this report. Contact Sara DiNatale at [email protected] Follow @sara_dinatale.
– Sad news for fans of Pinky the flamingo, one of Busch Gardens Tampa's "animal ambassadors," per a park statement. The 19-year-old bird, who performed dance routines at the park and loved to "get her groove on," per the park's blog, was euthanized Tuesday evening after witnesses say an Orlando man reached into the Chilean flamingo's pen and flung her to the ground, WFLA reports. Pinky was whisked to the onsite Animal Care Center, where vets decided her injuries were too severe and euthanized her. Arrested in the incident was 45-year-old Joseph Anthony Carrao, who was said to be visiting the park with his family. Park security detained him until local police arrived, per WFTV. The Tampa Bay Times reports that Carrao posted Monday on Facebook that he'd be attending a Tampa Bay Rays game with "all u can drink and eat free … i will be tepsy tonight." When friends responded by warning him to be on his best behavior for his kids' sake, he wrote, "I've never been to jail in Tampa." It's not the first brush with the law for Carrao, who was charged with felony animal cruelty in this incident: The Orlando Sentinel reports that he got out of prison last year after two separate stints, for charges that included willfully fleeing and eluding law enforcement, a felony DUI, and aggravated assault of a person 65 years or older, per the Florida Department of Corrections. (A happier flamingo story out of Cyprus.)