Efforts continue to rescue cockatoo ‘living on brioche’ for four weeks inside Sydney supermarket

Wildlife services are working to rescue a cockatoo called Mickey that has been “living on brioche” inside a Sydney supermarket for four weeks.

The New South Wales environment minister, Penny Sharpe, on Tuesday promised the bird was “not going to be shot” after false rumours of a “kill order” had spread online.

The minister said she had directed the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to work with grocery retailer Coles and rescue groups to help save Mickey.

“National Parks is in contact with wildlife rescue groups and staff at Coles Macarthur Square,” she said. “Mickey will be freed.”

Sharpe said wildlife rescue organisation Wires was planning to deploy another team on Tuesday to try and rescue the bird and “release him into the wild where he belongs”.

The bird has been stuck inside the Coles supermarket in Campbelltown for weeks, according to the Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services.

On Tuesday morning, another cockatoo, Old Lady Doris, was taken into the supermarket by the Feathered Friends bird rescue director Ravi Wasan in the hope Mickey would be reassured by her presence.

The plan looked like it could work, with Mickey initially flying down, before being spooked and retreating out of reach.

“He’s really scared because there’s been so many attempts – people trying to catch him,” Wasan said.

“He’s so scared but the other cockatoo, obviously, is so loving that it really reassured him. We got so so close … and then they opened the emergency doors and it spooked him.”

Wasan said Mickey looked “physically fine” and was not hungry because he was eating “really well” in the supermarket.

“He just needs to chill out, relax and come down without thinking that people are going to try and catch him,” he said.

“The exits where the cockatoo would go out are also the exits for patrons, so he just has to realise that the patrons … aren’t terrifying, which is obviously challenging when he sees everyone as a potential threat.”

Members from the Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services were at the centre on Monday night attempting to lure the bird outside – although they were unsuccessful and described it as a “nightmare”.

“The poor bird hasn’t had any dark for over four weeks and has been living on brioche and water [placed] by the night manager – who is very fond of the bird,” a post from the rescue group stated.

“Two traps left but with so much food in the store, who knows if that will work. Hopefully, we exhausted him so much he will come down to a trap for water.”

Sharpe’s office said the rumours of a “kill order” that had circulated on social media were false. Coles was contacted for comment.