Brave Veterinarian From Jordan Rescues Animals Living in the Terrifying Reality of Combat Zones
Great Big Story caught up with Amir Khalil, a very brave and compassionate veterinarian in Amman, Jordan who works with the rapid response animal rescue organization Four Paws international. Khalil's noble mission is to rescue animals who are trapped inside combat zones through no fault of their own and bring them to quieter, peaceful areas. He also rescues animals from natural disasters and from abusive environments.
Imagine being trapped in a cage as active combat rages around you. That's the terrifying reality for zoo animals living in war zones. Veterinarian Amir Khalil is saving as many as he can. He runs the rapid response unit of the animal rescue organization Four Paws and risks his life rushing into trouble spots around the globe, treating and evacuating shell-shocked, starving and injured animals.
Khalil and Four Paws have made rescues from such places as Myanmar, Syria, and Iraq. The largest rescue to date is from a neglected zoo in Rafah, Gaza, where 47 animals were taken and brought to safety in Jordan and South Africa.
On 7th April 2019, the rescue team transferred 47 zoo animals out of the Gaza Strip. The animals - including five lions, a hyena, several monkeys, wolves, porcupines, foxes, cats, dogs, emus, ostriches, and squirrels - come from a neglected zoo in Rafah in the south of Gaza. The rescue mission was originally scheduled for the end of March but had to be postponed due to ongoing unrest in the region. FOUR PAWS brought most of the animals to Jordanian wildlife sanctuaries with two of the lions to fly on to South Africa today, 8th April. There they will live in species-appropriate enclosures.
Dr. Khalil spoke about this crisis.
Here are some of those beautiful animals who have been given a second lease on life.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by FOUR PAWS | VIER PFOTEN (@four_paws_international) on Apr 9, 2019 at 5:40am PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by FOUR PAWS | VIER PFOTEN (@four_paws_international) on Apr 8, 2019 at 6:33am PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by FOUR PAWS | VIER PFOTEN (@four_paws_international) on Apr 8, 2019 at 1:12am PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by FOUR PAWS | VIER PFOTEN (@four_paws_international) on Apr 7, 2019 at 12:17pm PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by FOUR PAWS | VIER PFOTEN (@four_paws_international) on Apr 8, 2019 at 10:21am PDT
View this post on InstagramRelated Laughing Squid PostsHungarian Firefighters Use an Inflatable Slide to Rescue a Dog Who Was Stranded in Middle of a Frozen LakeAn Amazing Real Time Rescue of a Tiny Kitten Stranded on the Shoulder of Bustling LA FreewayThe Incredibly Touching Story of How a Shelter Dog Saved the Life of the Human Who Adopted HimA post shared by FOUR PAWS | VIER PFOTEN (@four_paws_international) on Apr 11, 2019 at 1:58am PDT
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