A social media video capturing a pet toucan’s reaction to its owner returning home from work has melted hearts across the internet.
The viral video, which has been viewed more than 3.7 million times since it was first shared to TikTok on November 1, filmed Chester the toucan leaping out of his cage to greet his owner after she had spent three days away from home on a work trip.
Viewers were shown the chestnut-eared aracari toucan gently biting his owner, to convey how upset he’d felt by being left alone, before cuddling up to her to share his affection. The toucan’s owner could be heard saying: “I miss you,” sharing in the post that the toucan’s “big feelings” had kicked in.
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The post had been captioned: “Home is where the honk is.”
The video’s creator, who goes by @chester_the_toucan on the platform, shared in the post’s comments section that Chester’s emotional reaction to her return came after he’d had a sitter stay with him for the entire three days apart.
“He is just very attached to me,” the toucan’s owner wrote in the post’s comments section.
Toucans are usually found up high in the rainforest canopies of Central and South America.
“Home for the toucan is a nest in a hollowed-out tree cavity. It might seem odd that a bird with such a large bill would choose a small, enclosed space in which to nest, but the toucan has an interesting approach to getting comfortable,” San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance says on its website. “The toucan is a symbol of playfulness and intelligence that has been used quite successfully by advertisers and business owners.”
What Do the Comments Say?
Since it had been shared to the social media platform on November 1 by @chester_the_toucan, the TikTok post has been liked by over 404,000 users and commented on more than 2,000 times.
“We’re not crying, you are,” Google’s official TikTok account commented.
Another user added: “He seemed mad, then he sounds like he was crying under the shirt.”
“You can’t leave ever again. That baby was distraught,” shared a third user.
“I think people that love birds are so, so kind and gentle,” a different TikToker wrote.
The TikTok post can be seen here.
Newsweek reached out to @chester_the_toucan for more information via TikTok.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.