Dr Tariq Abou-Zahr
Tariq is from Cardiff and graduated as a vet in 2014 from the University of Bristol and is a specialist avian & exotic vet, working in our specialist exotic animal clinical service at Valley Veterinary Hospital - Valley Exotics.
After qualifying, he spent his first year in a very busy, small animal practice in Newport, where he completed the RCVS Professional Development Phase. After this, he embarked on a 4-year European College of Zoological Medicine (ECZM) internship and residency program at Great Western Exotic Vets in Swindon. He passed the RCVS certificate in zoological medicine in 2018 and the ECZM(Avian) European diploma in zoological medicine in 2021. He is an RCVS & European recognised veterinary specialist in zoological medicine.
Tariq enjoys all aspects of avian and exotic practice, but particularly likes avian and reptile medicine and surgery - although he sees a large number of small mammals as part of his caseload, as well as a small number of amphibians, fish and invertebrates. He is particularly interested in the latest husbandry techniques for exotic species.
A keen aviculturist and herpetoculturist, Tariq has been keeping birds and reptiles since he was a child. He presently keeps a collection of pythons, parrots and toucans and is particularly interested in preserving existing established captive populations of wildtype, less common species.
Tariq's hobbies include travel, photography and visiting nice country pubs. He recently moved to the countryside and enjoys spending time outdoors, looking after the animals and maintaining the garden.