World's Oldest Parrot Dies

BROOKFIELD, IL — One of the world’s most beloved birds has passed on. Cookie the Cockatoo, the world’s oldest parrot, died over the weekend at Brookfield Zoo at age 83.

Cookie, a Major Mitchell’s cockatoo, was the oldest resident of Chicagoland’s largest zoo and the only member of its original animal collection from 1934. Guinness World Records certified the bird as the world’s oldest living parrot in 2014.

“Cookie lived well beyond the life expectancy for his species,” the Brookfield Zoo wrote on YouTube Monday. “He arrived at Brookfield Zoo at the age of 1 from Taronga Zoo in Australia. Over the years, Cookie’s popularity grew and he touched many people’s lives. He received many cards, letters, toys and pictures from admirers around the world.”

His pink and salmon feathers were unmistakable for regulars at Brookfield Zoo.

But in recent weeks, Cookie had seemed “a bit off,” business associate Tim Snyder told the Chicago Sun-Times. He was found at the bottom of his enclosure on Saturday and taken to the hospital, when zoo staff made the difficult decision to euthanize.

At 83 years of age, Cookie was no ordinary parrot.

An Indian healer and parrot sanctuary founder, Dr. Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, made a special pilgrimage to Brookfield when he heard about Cookie.

The Chicago Zoological Society shared a remembrance video of Cookie on YouTube. With an emotional musical backdrop, the bird was shown chirping with handlers at the zoo, eating cereal and getting up close with the camera.

Bird lovers were mourning on social media when the zoo shared news.

One fan remembers coming to the Zoo every year to see the epic birthday celebrations, while another described the “amazing” interaction Cookie had with his handlers.

The zoo has opened up donation opportunities for anyone who would like to remember Cookie personally. The Cookie the Cockatoo Tribute page was set up Monday.

Photo: Brookfield Zoo