The NSW Environment Minister has stepped in to assure people that a cockatoo trapped in a Coles supermarket for four weeks won’t be killed.

The bird, who has been named Mickey, reportedly flew into the supermarket at Macarthur Square, Campbelltown, through a loading bay a month ago.

Despite the best efforts of animal rescuers, Mickey has managed to elude catchers since.

He has been “living on brioche” and water put out for him by the night manager who is “very fond of the bird”, according to Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service.

After being trapped in the Coles for four weeks, the cockatoo reportedly flew out into the broader shopping centre on Monday — making it even harder to corner him.

When rumours began circulating that a kill order had been issued, concerned people contacted radio station 2GB.

However, NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe assured people that there was no licence to kill the animal.

“Mickey the cockatoo is not going to be shot,” she told radio host Ben Fordham.

“I have directed the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to find out how we can help Mickey and the team at Coles.

“Mickey will be freed.”

Sharpe said National Parks staff were in contact with wildlife rescue groups and Coles staff.

Concerns have also been raised for Mickey’s mental state after rescuers discovered that Coles cannot switch off its lights, meaning the bird has lived in a state of daylight for a whole month.

WIRES said on Monday that a rescue operation had many complications. For one, the supermarket’s high ceilings made using a containment net impractical.

In addition, the NSW Prohibited Weapons Act bans native animal rescuers from using net guns.

“As the bird has access to plenty of food within Coles and the food court, it is not possible to lure it into a cage using food,” a Facebook update said.

“Nor is it safe to use a tranquilliser dart as the bird will fall from a height and potentially hurt itself – it also might not survive the effects of the tranquilliser.”

In a Facebook update, Sydney Wildlife said its recent mission to rescue Mickey was a “nightmare”.

“We had a great strategy and a great team of willing helpers. We were exhausting the bird so that when the lights were turned off/down, it would make a flight error and come to ground,” it said.

“The bird was utterly exhausted (as were we) and then the clowns at Coles head office refused to turn the lights down/off.

“Who knew in this climate crisis and with a looming social media debacle going down that 1. There is no local control panel for the staff at Coles to control the lights without head office flicking a switch and 2. That they leave ALL the lights on plus the music on 24/7.

“The poor bird hasn’t had any dark for over four weeks and has been living on brioche and illegally placed water by the night manager, who is very fond of the bird.

“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.”