The Pakistani Authorities are Worse Than Before: Dr. Amir Khalil

World-renowned veterinarian and elephant expert from FOUR PAWS International, Dr. Amir Khalil has been treating and rescuing Pakistan’s elephants in captivity over the last few years. He and his team have been working pro bono to rehabilitate Madhubala, the elephant, who is languishing away in a sad, little enclosure in Karachi Zoo to Safari Park so that she may be able to spend the rest of her life in a species-appropriate space with two more elephants there.

He is no stranger to the dismal condition of wild animal welfare in Pakistan and it is a mystery why Pakistan does not heed his expert advice and warnings despite repeatedly inviting him to take care of its crimes against animals. He finds the authorities’ pharaonic attitude to the wild animals in their official care critically distressing, and draws a stark comparison between how many countries have taken giant steps to prevent cruelty to animals and to enhance their animal welfare programs, and how Pakistan is still obtuse and indifferent on this front.

Glory Magazine: Do you think International Animals Day is significant in improving animal care, rights, and welfare awareness?

Dr. Amir Khalil: The idea of animal welfare is great for International Animal Day. It’s observed all over the world and is highly important for many people as it raises awareness about and sympathy for animals and helps in sharing stories about them and improving their conditions on a global level.

Glory Magazine: Based on your experience of working across the globe, do you think animal welfare has improved or declined internationally over the years?

Dr. Khalil: I think animal welfare has improved in many nations but has sadly declined in many places as well. A good deal of awareness and understanding has been raised in many places in the world and many European countries have forbidden using wild animals in circuses. The way in which live animals are transported has also been prohibited, and many nations have stopped numerous activities against animal welfare and have criminalized and penalized cruelty to animals.

Food chains have stopped producing and selling meats, and even egg production [industry] has now been changed to free-range eggs in many places. A lot of positive things happened last year but there is still, sadly, a lot to do for animal welfare on a global level.

We should also not forget the human-animal conflict. Humans take a lot of space that belongs to animals to create more agricultural land, like [deforestation] in Brazil and the Amazon for farm animals. And this impacts climate change as well. So, spaces for animals and the quality of their lives must not be neglected.

Glory Magazine: You’ve come to Pakistan several times to treat wild animals here although it is not easy for you. What changes would you like to see in the zoo and wildlife administrations, and among and the vets here?

Dr. Khalil: Maybe I don’t see improvements in the provision of spaces for animals in zoos there. Things are still the same. To be honest, I don’t see much progress. I see that the authorities are worse than before. They take one step forward, and then one step back when dealing with Madhubala’s situation. One day they say, “Move the elephant,” then one day they say “Don’t move the elephant.” One day they say, “We will build her enclosure,” the next day they say they will not build it.

So, we are just waiting for feedback on how to improve her condition at this point. But, personally, I don’t see much improvement over the last few years regarding keeping wild animals in Pakistan. There are some initial steps, good steps, but there is still so much to do.

Sure, I would be happy to cooperate with our colleagues there so that they, along with others, will be able to improve conditions at the [Karachi] zoo, management for animals, and to improve the level of animal welfare and public awareness about it among visitors to the zoo.

So, the first thing that needs to be done is to improve the conditions of the animals, and especially wild animals like elephants and big cats, through regular health checks by the vets and to ensure they are properly administered vaccinations and medications.

It is also very important to have more information about the animals at the zoo, along with adequate and species-appropriate spaces.

I understand that a lot of countries have economic and political problems but animals are still very important, and we have been appointed to care for animals, and especially our colleagues [in Pakistan]. I wish the administration would have a better understanding of the conditions and cooperate with a lot of stakeholders to improve the conditions of the animals because this is critical for the future generations in Pakistan.

Glory Magazine: What is your vision for animal care and welfare in Pakistan?

Dr. Khalil: Pakistan has really great people who care not only for humans but also for animals. We [FOUR PAWS International] were invited on behalf of the Pakistani people, so my message is ‘Go ahead. Don’t give up!’ There are a lot of challenges but humanity is very important. To be humane is does not mean you should care only for humans and human problems. It means to care about humanity, animals, and nature. This planet belongs to all of us, including animals. They deserve to have their space and their species-requirement places, to have their needs fulfilled, and to be cared for.

About Dr. Amir Khalil, was born in 1964 in the Al-Fayoum oasis in Egypt, Dr. Amir Khalil is a war zone veterinary doctor who has over 30 years of exemplary and impressive experience in the field. He specializes in treating wild animals and evacuating them from conflict and war zones.

Dr. Khalil first made history in Pakistan during the 2010 floods, for caring for around 40,000 farm animals. After rescuing Kaavan in 2020, he returned to Karachi in August 2022 to treat four elephants, and has been in and out of the country again this year to treat and move Madhubala from Karachi Zoo to Safari Park after the death of her partner, Noor Jehan in April.