Cookie (cockatoo) facts for kids
Cookie in 2008
|
|
| Species | Pink cockatoo (Cacatua leadbeateri) |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Hatched | June 30, 1933 Taronga Zoo Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | August 27, 2016 (aged 83) Brookfield Zoo, Illinois, U.S. |
| Known for | Oldest cockatoo in captivity, oldest living parrot |
| Owner | Brookfield Zoo |
Cookie was a special male pink cockatoo who lived at the Brookfield Zoo near Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. He was born on June 30, 1933, and lived an incredibly long life until August 27, 2016. Cookie was thought to be the oldest pink cockatoo living in a zoo, reaching the age of 82 in 2015. This was much, much longer than most cockatoos live! He was even recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest living parrot in the world.
Pink cockatoos usually live for about 40 to 60 years when they are in zoos. Cookie lived for 83 years, which is a very long time for any bird.
Contents
Cookie's Amazing Life
Cookie was the oldest animal living at the Brookfield Zoo. He was also the last animal from the zoo's very first collection when it opened in 1934. Cookie arrived at Brookfield Zoo in 1934 from the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. At that time, he was thought to be about one year old.
Early Days at the Zoo
In the 1950s, the zoo tried to introduce Cookie to a female pink cockatoo. However, Cookie did not like her and "rejected" her. He seemed to prefer being on his own.
Staying Healthy in Old Age
As Cookie got older, he started to have some health issues. In 2007, he was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. These are conditions that affect bones and joints, and they are common in older animals and people. It's believed that his diet for the first 40 years of his life, which was mostly seeds, might have contributed to his bone problems. Back then, people didn't fully understand what these birds needed to eat to stay healthy.
Life Away from the Public Eye
In 2009, Cookie "retired" from being on public display at the zoo. This was done to help him stay healthy. Zoo staff noticed that he ate better, seemed happier, and was less stressed when he wasn't always in front of visitors.
After his retirement, Cookie moved to a special home in the keepers' office at the zoo's Perching Bird House. He still made special appearances sometimes, like for his birthday party every June. In 2013, even at a very old age, he was still considered to be in good health.
Saying Goodbye
Cookie passed away on August 27, 2016, when he was 83 years old. A special memorial was created for him at the zoo in September 2017 to remember his long and amazing life.
See also
- List of individual birds
