RIP Alex, You Were Amazing

I am incredibly sad to read and to share this piece of news.

Alex, an incredibly smart African Grey Parrot, has died.  He was 31 years old.  Alex was the subject of an experiment by Dr. Irene Pepperberg who is a a comparative psychologist at Brandeis University and Harvard.  Dr. Pepperberg worked with Alex and studied his behavior for most of his life after buying him at a pet store in 1977.  She published reports of Alex's learning abilities and his progress in scientific journals.

A number of years ago I remember seeing Alex on television and once I saw him, I just couldn't ever forget him.  He knew how to count, colors and shapes and over 150 words, but he was far more amazing than that.  It seemed that he had the ability to reason and problem solve as well.  When Dr. Pepperberg would hand him an object, he would feel it, look at it, sometimes taste it and he could tell her what color it was, what shape it was and what material it was made from.  One of the cutest words I remember him saying was "wool".  He was smart and adorable.  It was said that he was as intelligent as an average 5 year old human child.

Some people have said that Alex's understanding and communication of language was more impressive than that of other primates who have been studied and I believe it.

Alex was working on harder to pronounce and compound words last week before he died.  Thursday night when he was being put in his cage he looked at Dr. Pepperberg and told her “You be good, see you tomorrow. I love you.”

He was found dead in his cage the next morning.  It is said that he died of natural causes.  I know that Alex was very well taken care of, but it just seems too soon for him to die.  African Grey parrots in good health are said to have a lifespan of 50-65 years.  It was way too soon for Alex to go.  I am so sad.

RIP Alex, you were absolutely amazing and very loved and you will be truly missed.