Meet Malaky

Meet Malaky, an Umbrella Cockatoo. He was purchased as a baby from a pet store about 5 1/2 years ago. Everything went well for the first few years, when he was a compliant baby. However, as he's now beginning to enter sexual maturity, his former owners realized they are in over their heads. Most people are when it comes to cockatoos, which is why there are so many surrendered to rescues. We currently have several on a waiting list -- we just don't have room to take any more in until we adopt some out. It's very sad.His former family wasn't interested in help to work through these issues -- they just wanted him gone. He turns 6 on June 15, 2010. He has decades yet to live.

Cockatoos are among the most difficult parrots to keep in captivity. They are wild animals not well suited to lives in our living rooms. Their natural calls are very loud, occasionally resulting in threats of eviction or complaints from neighbors. They are quite destructive, especially if not given enough toys to destroy. Their bites can be quite severe -- it is not unheard of for a cockatoo bite to send the victim to the emergency room for stitches.Given his behavior, we suspect Malaky didn't have many toys in his previous home, which likely contributed to the behavior issues he was exhibiting. He quickly got the hang of toys, as you can see from these pictures and is now a master of destruction.Malaky is up for adoption, though it will likely be a challenge to find a home up to the task of providing him with what he needs. We're sure that home is out there somewhere -- we just need to find it!