The world’s oldest parrot died on this day in 2016. The male pink cockatoo, dubbed Cookie, had popped out of an egg in Sydney, Australia, in 1933 before being moved to Brookfield Zoo near Chicago, Ill., where he lived to 83 years old.
Cookie was childless, having been spurned by a female pink cockatoo in the 1950s, a caretaker said. He was moody (keen to bite some who tried to get too close) and mouthy (frequently shouting at passersby to “Quit your screaming!”), but also playful, often chirping “Peek-a-boo!” In his later years, Cookie suffered from health issues and fell ill often.
He was euthanized after being found unconscious at the bottom of his cage at the age of 83, having surpassed the average 40-60-year lifespan for pink cockatoos by decades. You can watch a video in memoriam of Cookie here (bring tissues!).
