From the June 25, 2011, Chicago Tribune by Victoria Pierce.
All the rest have died, but Cookie, believed to be the world's oldest Major Mitchell cockatoo living in a zoo, turned 78 last year, and apparently is still alive this year. All the rest would be Brookfield Zoo's original animals from when it opened in 1934.
He arrived at the zoo back then in a huge shipment of animals from Australia with 200 mammals and 900 other birds. Cookie has outlasted the normal life expectancy of his breed, 40-60 years in a zoo.He was just 1-year-old when he arrived. from the Taronga Zoo in Australia.
He has some of the typical ailments for his age including osteoarthritis and osteoporasis and has been removed from display ever since 2009, but still entertains the staff from his home in the trainer's office. He has a birthday celebration June 25th with a chorus of "Happy Birthday" and a muffin-size birthday cake made of his favorite foods.
So, Happy 79th, Cookie. --Cooter
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