Kid Territory:Critters: A Gift for Entertaining
Like most cockatoos, Max loves to be the center of attention. He knows that making
special sounds, such as saying "I love you," will get someone to come
over!
Max has lots of room to roam in his multi-leveled exhibit in the middle of
our Plant Trader gift shop, and plenty of toys
to keep this active cockatoo busy.
Max now has his own line of merchandise: key chains, postcards, and magnets
with his picture on them!
Wild Animal Park name: Max
Species: Moluccan
or salmon-crested cockatoo
Location: Wild Animal
Park's Plant
Trader Gift Shop
His story
When visiting the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, come by the Plant Trader and discover a long time friend and mascot, Max the Cockatoo. He has brightly colored crest feathers and his body feathers, though mostly white, have a light salmon-pink hue as well. Max was donated to us in 1981 and has been with the Wild Animal Park ever since, greeting and entertaining people at the Plant Trader gift shop.
A friendly fellow
Every day Max has a steady stream of friends that stop by just to see him and say "hi." Some were little themselves when they first met Max and are now bringing their own children in, sharing stories and memories. His vocabulary is small and limited to what he hears during the day, such as "How are you?", "Hello there!", and "Hello Max!" When we're really lucky, an "I love you!" can be heard clear as a bell, making us all feel very special. Max also does a fine impersonation of the white-faced whistling ducks that live nearby, bouncing and raising his crest feathers for emphasis each time. His wolf whistle, little kisses, and a laugh that is identical to one of his keepers always bring a smile.
Max the shredder
Max is very curious about his surroundings, so the bird keepers make sure he has plenty to entertain himself throughout the day. They give him small tree branches so he can snap off leaves and assorted tubes and triangles filled with treats and paper to shred. He loves to shred things! He also loves showers and will spread his wings, fluff his feathers, lean way over to catch all the water he can, then sit back and shake it all off with delight! At the end of the day his keepers have a stick he climbs onto so they can walk him back to his off-exhibit bedroom. Max pretends to fly like an eagle as he soars homeward, up the hill, to dinner and a good nights' rest.
Where you can see him
Max spends his days in the Plant Trader gift shop at the Wild Animal Park, located in Nairobi Village.
More
Meet the Critters: The Berry Sisters (Rose-breasted cockatoos, or galahs)
Animal Bytes: Cockatoo
Wild Animal Park: Nairobi Village
