Macaw an $8000 kid replacement

MEL Soanes has never wanted any kids but has always wanted a Macaw.

Picture: Craig Warhurst

MEL Soanes has never wanted any kids but has always wanted a Macaw.

So when she saved up enough money the Gympie girl decided to buy one and with a price tag of $8000, saving for her new baby took quite a bit of time.

“I have wanted a Macaw since I was five or six years old,” Mel said.

She said she bought the hand raised Macaw named Tatum from a dealer in Perth.

“He is still only young, he will get a little bit taller but will fill out a lot.”

The South American bird has a life expectancy of 80 to 100 years and has the brain power the equivalent of a five-year-old child.

“He will outlive me,” Mel said.

“He says hello and has an evil laugh he has copied from someone.”

The pet owner is expecting Tatum to learn quite a few more phrases.

“I think the next thing he will say is get that out of your beak or don't touch that.”

Tatum and Mel were at the Gympie Pet Shop yesterday helping raise money for animals affected by the Victorian bush fires.

Originally published as Macaw an $8000 kid replacement