Sohail Hafeez is an expatriate from Pakistan currently working in Saudi Arabia whose employment is concluding shortly. He has 2 African Grey Parrots (Kuko and Faith) that he is wishing to take back with him to Pakistan. Both were hatched prior to 2017 and the adoption of the African Grey Parrot to the CITES 1 Listing (from which Saudi Arabia reserved its position).

The Saudi Wildlife Authority initially asked for compliance with the CITES 1 rules; upon satisfying them at the last minute instructed for a further unwritten / unpublished rule to be satisfied - to produce the original import document when the birds will have first been brought into the country. Sohail does not have access to these documents as he bought them locally and there is no law making such documents to be provided by the seller to the buyer.

Kuko and Faith are pet African Grey Parrots, they are not from the wild and are bonded to Sohail and his family. They are like 3-year-old children of Sohail. By refusing to allow these magnificent beings from returning home with Sohail, the Saudi Wildlife Authority will only be breaking up a family where everyone is looked after with love, devotion and interaction. It would also be a transgression of what CITES is supposed to protect in that it will be detrimental to the well being of Kuko and Faith as well as Sohail Hafeez. Sohail's youngest son is 5 and has already returned to Pakistan with his mother and 2 elder siblings. The photo above is of him with Faith who is very fond of him. He would get a bed-time cuddle every night from Faith before going to sleep. Both of them miss each other dearly.

The Saudi Wildlife Authority have deemed that permission for travel for these 2 birds will only be granted upon the leniency of Hon Mr Hany Mohamed Ali Tetouani - Vice President, Saudi Wildlife Authority.