People have been entranced by parrots for thousands of years. Cave paintings of macaws in Brazil have been dated to 5,000 years ago. Parrots, canaries and other birds have been revered as beloved pets, lauded as status symbols, depicted in art and literature, showcased in zoos and had their likeness displayed as decorations.
Egyptians were likely the first to keep African grey parrots as pets. The first written reference to parrots was found in the "Rig-veda” — Indian literature written more than 3,000 years ago. By the third century A.D., Chinese poetry described birds in cages and birds were housed in cages trimmed with jewels. Chinese culture is still very bird-oriented, and people travel everywhere with their little singing finches, bringing them along in small carrying cages. The "Kama Sutra (10th to 13th century A.D.) stated that one of the 64 requirements of a man was to teach a parrot to talk. Parrots were considered "birds of love” in ancient India and were also the subjects of satire and fables.