Officials freed the birds from the bottles, but many were weak and several later died.

Cockatoos were classified as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources in 2007.

CNN reports that wildlife smuggling is big business in Indonesia, and the water bottle method is commonly used to smuggle birds.

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A person exits the Wolf Creek Library in Atlanta after casting his ballot during election day on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

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