Iggy Pop’s Cockatoo Biggy Named Australian Wildlife Hospital’s “Founding Patron”

Iggy Pop’s cockatoo son, noted Instagam influencer Biggy Pop, has been named the “founding patron” of the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital in Australia. The press release announcing this news features some “quotes” from Biggy explaining his decision to become a patron of the organization as it works to build a mobile wildlife hospital.

I’m a bird, and a real wild one, and I have many cockatoo cousins in Australia. I was so distressed to hear that 180 million birds died in the catastrophic bushfire crisis that killed over 3 billion native animals over the Australian summer. That really horrified me. I heard about the team of Australian veterinarians building Australia’s largest mobile wildlife hospital and I thought, “That is such a brilliant idea.” So when they asked if I would be their founding Patron, I thought “Yeah, I’d love to connect with my bird sisters and brothers in the magical land of Oz.”

My dad Iggy has visited Australia many times including to perform at Byron Bay Bluesfest. He told me it’s a really cool place where people care for nature and love music, dancing, art and creativity. It sounds like my kind of place. I hope to get down there one day with Iggy, when it’s safe for humans to travel again. I’d fly down there now, but my dad would really miss me. For now I’m going to help spread the word via my Instagram page.

The announcement also came with a statement from Iggy Pop. “About 12 years ago a roadside vendor in a remote part of Florida stuffed Biggy, who was very young, into a tiny cage alongside some chickens, by the side of the road,” he said. “He seemed to be in peril of a bad future. So we decided to take care of him, responsibly. And we have. He gets and gives a lot of love.”

Donate to the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital here, and watch a video about Biggy’s involvement with the organization below.

This year, Iggy has reissued his solo albums produced by David Bowie and the Stooges’ Fun House. Third Man also released the final original lineup Stooges concert.