Papaya is a 2002 year model female Harlequin Macaw. She came to live with us in 2018 when a friend and supporter of ours contacted us about a parrot in need of immediate sanctuary. The previous caretakers of Papaya were a couple from Mexico Beach who lost their home in hurricane Michael and had to move into a hotel where they were not allowed to bring animals. So, no longer able to give her the care she needed, they thought it would be best to find her a new home. They put out a Facebook plea urgently looking for an appropriate home for Papaya. On November 10th, 2018 Skye (the sanctuary director) and a family friend drove to Mexico Beach to pick her up. Upon her arrival, she immediately took to Gavin (Skye's eldest), and they've been an inseparable pair since.

 

Now, Papaya is having the time of her life, doing as she pleases at the sanctuary - which typically involves being mischievous. Her favorite things to do are destroy paper, cardboard, and jewelry. But, if she's not breaking something, she’s probably hiding under things waiting for somebody she doesn’t like to walk by so she can attack their feet.