Pet bird evacuated from Afghanistan says ‘bonjour’ to new life in French embassy
A mynah bird that arrived in UAE with a young Afghan refugee has found sanctuary – and a new word – at the ambassador’s residence
Last modified on Thu 7 Oct 2021 13.59 EDT
" . . Ambassador Xavier Chatel said he was moved by the little girl, who arrived “exhausted” and carrying the bird, named Juji, at the Al-Dhafra airbase in the UAE during the chaotic evacuations from Kabul.
The girl was left in tears after being told she could not take her pet on the onward journey to France for “sanitary reasons”, Chatel said in a series of tweets.
“She had fought all the way at Kabul airport, to bring the treasured little thing with her,” he wrote.
“She cried silently. I was moved. I promised to take care of the bird at the residence, feed him. She could visit him anytime and take him back. I won’t forget her look of desperate gratefulness.”
Juji now has a “girlfriend”, a dove that visits him daily, and after much coaxing finally said “bonjour” – a moment that “went straight to my heart”, Chatel said.
...Or so I thought. Until one day, the (female) manager of the French residence sent me this "Bonjour" that went straight to my heart.
— Xavier Chatel (@Xavier_Chatel_) October 5, 2021
7/8 pic.twitter.com/0k5BIn7hR7
“Today, from Paris, the bird’s owner, ‘Alia’, found me on Twitter. She was so happy to see her bird thus cared for,” he wrote, using a pseudonym for the girl.
“She wanted me to teach him French. Alia, your bird has become the embassy’s mascot, but he is here for you, and if I can, I’ll take him personally to you one day.”
.jfif)
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