Tariq graduated from the University of Bristol in veterinary science in 2014 and after a year in small animal general practice with some exotics, he embarked on a combined 4 year internship and residency program at Great Western Exotics in Swindon. He gained his RCVS certificate in zoological medicine in 2018 through the University of Edinburgh and passed the final synoptic exam with distinction. He passed the ECZM(Avian) exams in 2021. He presently works in 100% avian and exotic practice, doing 1st opinion and referral work at Valley Veterinary Hospital in Cardiff, Wales, UK. A keen aviculturist, Tariq has been keeping birds since the age of 7 when he got his first pets, a pair of budgerigars! He has exhibited poultry, raced pigeons and bred a whole range of different psittacine species over the years. Tariq also treats a large number of small mammals and reptiles as part of his exotics caseload and as well as birds, keeps reptiles at home too.