Screenshot via Xavier Chatel/Twitter
DUBAI 鈥� A mynah bird that was brought from Afghanistan by a girl fleeing the Taliban has learnt to say 鈥渂onjour鈥� after finding a new home with France鈥檚 ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
Ambassador Xavier Chatel said he was moved by the little girl, who arrived 鈥渆xhausted鈥� and carrying the bird, named Juji, at the Al-Dhafra airbase in the UAE during the chaotic evacuations from Kabul.
鈥r so I thought. Until one day, the (female)聽 manager of the French residence sent me this "Bonjour" that went straight to my heart.
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鈥� Xavier Chatel (@Xavier_Chatel_)
The girl was left in tears after being told she could not take her pet on the onward journey to France for 鈥渟anitary reasons鈥�, Chatel said in a series of tweets.
鈥淪he had fought all the way at Kabul airport, to bring the treasured little thing with her,鈥� he wrote.
鈥淪he 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鈥檛 forget her look of desperate gratefulness.鈥�
Juji now has a 鈥済irlfriend鈥�, a dove that visits him daily, and after much coaxing finally said 鈥渂onjour鈥� 鈥� a moment that 鈥渨ent straight to my heart鈥�, Chatel said.
鈥淭oday, from Paris, the bird鈥檚 owner, 鈥楢lia鈥�, found me on Twitter. She was so happy to see her bird thus cared for,鈥� he wrote, using a pseudonym for the girl.
鈥淪he wanted me to teach him French. Alia, your bird has become the embassy鈥檚 mascot, but he is here for you, and if I can, I鈥檒l take him personally to you one day.鈥�