@TomsMum - It's generally even worse to import stuff here, as not only is there a 60% import tax on most goods (except books) coming from outside the local economic cooperation zone, Mercosul; but things imported from the US and Europe have a nasty habit of disappearing en route unless you use the most expensive types of international tracking (which no-one does for much less than the price of the goods themselves for small orders when sending to here). The only type of goods that ever seem to come reliably when I try to import stuff are books - which though they would probably be appreciated as parrot chew toys, are something I prefer not to give them!
It's strange, because national post and parcel delivery here is generally pretty reliable - Mrs A orders things online locally all the time, and we virtually never get problems. Maybe something from the other end of the country arrives a week later than expected now and then. Tracking here is very reasonably priced and efficent too - even the ordinary national postal service, Correiros, has standard parcel tracking that actually works properly all the way to the destination and can be followed online (unlike that of the Royal Mail, in my experience!), and it's extremely rare for them to actually lose anything. I suspect that the problem is due to either international couriers or the customs people not doing their jobs properly.
Only about half of the total orders I've tried to import since coming here have ever actually turned up, often very late - the rest either disappeared entirely or somehow found their way back to the sender, six months or more after being sent! I have noticed a pattern of goods from the USA (probably the commonest source of imports here) being certain to get taxed if they turn up; whereas while goods from the UK/Europe are
even less likely to turn up, but sometimes they forget to tax them. Not sure what any of this actually signifies though! I've largely given up trying to import stuff besides books - it's just too much trouble and uncertainty!
On the other hand locally sourced natural raw materials that could be used to make parrot toys are plentiful and decently priced - maybe there are business oportunities for those who want to try making their own, which I am currently missing out on...!