WHEN Al-Bara Bin Al-Othman was growing up in Taif, he knew at a very early age that animals fascinated him. Growing up on a farm, he saw different kinds of species living in the wild. Falcons were always a favorite. His fascination was such that by the time he was five, the books he was reading were only about animals. Recalling his childhood years while speaking to Saudi Gazette, Al-Bara said, “As soon as I opened by eyes, I realized animals, and helping them was my life calling.” True to his word, Al-Bara has not only helped them, he's now got three patents filed in the United States with unique ideas to help birds in particular. Filing a patent is not something that is so straightforward. Especially if you're in your early 20s. Lawyers are needed and money has to be invested into registering the idea. A patent is officially described as “a government authority or license…to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention.” The Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission in Washington has an office dedicated to helping students in the United States, with unique ideas, and how to guide them through the process. One of the lawyers appointed to guiding students with good ideas is Brad Lytle of the Oblon law firm in Washington. He told Saudi Gazette: “I have been filing patents for large corporations for over 25 years. But the Saudi students we work with have such a wide range of interest levels and ideas, it is really fun to work with them.” Speaking with a great sense of pride and enthusiasm, Al-Bara explained how it was seeing the birds effected by the BP oil spill off the gulf of Mexico in 2010 that made him know “I had to do something to help all these injured birds. Their wings were just covered in oil. They could not fly. But I had already helped repair the wings of falcons in Saudi Arabia, so I decided to use my knowledge from that, to adapt it for birds in the United States, so I got on a plane to Washington to start inventing and researching.” Things quickly began to align for Al-Bara. In 2011, he won a scholarship to Portland State University to study environmental issues and conservation of animals. By the time he was studying he had already developed a thin needle which helps birds when they have broken or damaged feathers. He did so by using the exact same feathers from the same species of bird. The needle is then inserted for the repair to take place. In his interview with Saudi Gazette, Al-Bara said: “If you have a really good idea, and it is real, it is amazing to see how you can impact something's life and save it.” Knowing he wanted to patent his idea of saving the wings of birds, it wasn't long before Al-Bara reached out to the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission for advise and help. Working with Brad Lytle and his team at Oblon, Al-Bara recalled: “It was just amazing to get such great advice on how to patent an idea. It took two years for me to get approval for my Feather Imping Pin, but I knew waiting was worth it. The environment needs help, and I am so happy I am now helping it in my small way. We all need to make the world a better place, and I am now helping a whole species. I fulfilled my dream, and along the way I have filed another two patents. One will help the spread of disease in birds feet, and the other is a special pair of scissors for birds when need to cut their feathers.” Currently a graduate student in the department of Natural Resource Management at South Dakota State University Al-Bara's long term vision is to return to Saudi Arabia after graduation and “start to help environment in the Middle East, one species at a time.” It was his early childhood years in the Kingdom, and growing up on his farm that really impacted his long term vision for life. He now has his own small zoo near Taif, that is home to endangered falcons. An avid reader as a young boy, he recalled how first studying to be a vet at King Faisal University also helped him learn what animals and endangered species need to survive. “I have read about Darwin, and I read about Einstein. I dreamed of being them. I want to make an impact. Having these patents are like my family. I am going to treasure them,” he said. For endangered species and birds in particular, it is wonderful to know a Saudi student in the United States has done so much already to make the world a better place.
