An experienced bird carer was shocked to find a wild kookaburra feeding her orphaned chicks and eventually teaching them to fly

Kookaburras belong in the Australian bush, not inside a US pet store.

But that’s where Wendy Davidson, an Aussie living in the US, found this poor fellow.

The four-year-old bird was being advertised for sale for a whopping $A1700 (US$1200).

Australian laws state that it’s illegal to keep a kookaburra as a pet, but such laws don’t exist in the US state of Virginia, where the bird was found.

Ms Davidson made a trip to the pet store after hearing about the bird, who had been named Thunder.

She found the bird on display in a small cage all on his own, vastly different to the life of wild kookaburras who mate for life with their chosen partner and live in family groups.

Ms Davidson said she “was deeply saddened to see one of our native protected species in a small cage alone and so far from home”.

“I couldn't stop thinking about him being a prisoner in solitary confinement.”

A quick search of the pet store’s Facebook page reveals they even dress Thunder up in little white collar and business tie outfit.

“Dress up time with the kookaburra,” one of the pictures is captioned.

In another photo Thunder is dressed in a tiny Santa hat, followed by multiple pictures of other birds dressed in Santa outfits.

The discovery has caused widespread fury among Australians, with many campaigning to bring Thunder to Australia where he is meant to be.

The pet store’s Facebook page has been flooded with angry reviews.

“Animal cruelty at its finest,” one person wrote.

“Inhumane pet shop. Australia called it wants it kookaburra back,” another said.

One added: “Please surrender Thunder the kookaburra to a sanctuary who specialise in Australian wildlife. It is very inhumane to house a wild Australian bird in a pet store, let alone dress him up in ridiculous outfits.”

Others slammed the pet store as “cruel” and claimed they were dressed the bird up “like it is a doll for people’s sick amusement”.

Following the backlash, the pet shop made a statement on Facebook claiming they obtained Thunder legally.

“We would like to address this concern by stating that thunder was not taken from the wild in Australia shipped over to our store! Exportation of birds was outlawed over 20 years ago,” the post read.

“All of our baby birds including thunder have come from our reputable baby breeders that we have been doing business with for 30 years.

“Thunder’s lineage comes from a line of kookaburra that were legally brought into the states and legally bred through our licensed breeder. He was hatched in captivity legally!”

After seeing Thunder Ms Davidson began reaching out to a host of authorities in the US and Australia to see if there was anything that could be done.

As a result of her protest the Australian Consulate General filed a report with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

However, it is unlikely that the kookaburra will be able to be transferred to Australia.

“Unfortunately, it is not possible to bring the kookaburra back to Australia,” a spokesman for the Department of Agriculture said.

“This is because we don’t know what diseases it may be carrying or its health history.”

A Queensland woman has even set up a GoFundMe campaign to help give Thunder a better life, even if he can’t come to Australia.

“I have been in contact with wildlife sanctuaries in Aus and USA with a view to rehoming him in a better environment than a pet shop,” she wrote.

“The account would be to buy him and to transfer him to a new home where he would have a better quality of life and any remaining funds go towards his upkeep.”

So far $720 has been raised of the $2000 goal.