News Release

June 18, 2009

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact: Sondra Katzen

Public Relations

708.688.8351

sondra.katzen@czs.org

Note: Images of Cookie Cockatoo may be downloaded at https://www.brookfieldzoo.org/pgpages/pagegen.77.aspx 


Cookie Cockatoo Celebrates 75th Birthday at Brookfield Zoo

 

Brookfield, IL—With Brookfield Zoo celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, it is only appropriate to also have a celebration for the oldest resident at Brookfield Zoo, who is also the zoo’s official 75th celebration mascot—Cookie, a Major Mitchell’s cockatoo. Cookie, who will turn 76 during a birthday bash on Saturday, June 27, is the only remaining animal at Brookfield Zoo from the original collection dating back to 1934.    

 

The festivities, sponsored by American Airlines, get underway at 10:30 a.m. at the zoo’s Perching Bird House. There, guests can join zoo staff in singing a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday” to the bird of honor. For a treat, Cookie will receive a birthday cake the size of a muffin made of his favorite foods, including carrots, apples, bananas, raisins, and eggs (including the shells for calcium). In addition, guests will have the opportunity to send birthday wishes and greetings to Cookie by signing an enormous birthday card in front of his exhibit. Zoo keepers will be available to answer questions about the birthday bird or any of the other bird species that reside in Perching Bird House.

 

Also attending Cookie’s birthday bash will be The Avicultural Society of Chicagoland (TASC), which is an association of individuals with the common interest of providing a better life for birds both in their natural and domestic environments. Members from the organization will be handing out party favors (while supplies last) to all the children attending Cookie’s birthday celebration.

 

Cookie arrived at Brookfield Zoo from Australia, which is home to his species. He is well beyond the average life span of his species and has become one of the zoo’s most famous animals. Of the hundreds of thousands of guests that have visited Brookfield Zoo, most have probably seen him—he even receives fan mail and gets toys from guests!

 

A few years ago, Cookie was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Because of his advanced age and age-related health challenges, Cookie is in “semi-retirement,” spending weekdays behind the scenes enjoying time with his keepers and weekends on exhibit so guests can see him. However, guests will be able to see him on exhibit June 29-July 1 for the zoo’s 75th celebration.

 

For further information about the zoo and upcoming events, visit www.CZS.org/events.

 

The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. Open every day of the year, Brookfield Zoo is located off First Avenue between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and is also accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, CTA, and PACE bus service.

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