Most people wouldn’t even consider having a toucan as a pet, but Maria Stagliano wouldn’t have it any other way. Her life turned upside down after Chester the Toucan flew into her life, and he became a true social media sensation once she started sharing his shenanigans with the world.
When Stagliano ran into Chester at the pet store in 2021, she was there to buy a parrot, but immediately changed her mind after seeing him. They had an instant connection, and she decided to welcome him into her home and make all the necessary changes to make it a safe space for Chester.
“My goal is to give Chester the best, most enriching life possible… I work from home and we spend our days together. From when we wake up to when we go to bed, Chester and I are together. We’ve created little routines and have learned how to communicate with each other,” she writes on her official website.
Despite the strong connection she has with Chester, Stagliano is very open about the fact that owning a pet toucan isn’t easy. She admits she had to make many changes after adopting him, from buying a leather harness so he could enjoy bird-friendly activities outside to moving to a bigger apartment with enough space and sunlight.
