World’s Oldest Living Parrot Dies Aged 83 After Short Illness

The world’s oldest living parrot has died at the grand old age of 83.

Vets made the tough decision to put Cookie the pink and white Major Mitchell’s cockatoo to sleep over the weekend.

The popular bird had seen a sharp decline in his health and his carers were left with little choice but to end his life.

Michael Adkesson, vice president of clinical medicine for Chicago Zoological Society, told the Chicago Tribune: “On Saturday morning, Cookie suffered a very abrupt decline in his health, prompting the veterinary and animal care staff to make the extremely difficult decision that it was time to peacefully euthanise him.”

Tribute: Cookie had lived at Brookfield Zoo since it opened in 1934 (Facebook/Brookfield Zoo)

Cookie, who held the Oldest Parrot Living record, lived at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo and had been there since it opened in 1934.

He had arrived in Chicago from Taronga Zoo in Australia when he was just one.

Major Mitchell’s cockatoos typically have a life expectancy of between 40 and 100 years.

The zoo said that Cookie lived beyond what is usually expected of the species.

They added that he would be “sorely missed by staff and visitors alike” on a video posted on their Facebook page.

Top pic: Facebook/Brookfield Zoo