The Animals Rescued from War Zones

After years of war in Syria, only 13 animals remained alive inside a devastated zoo outside Aleppo. Lions, tigers, bears, hyenas and dogs had survived years of fighting before an international rescue team, led by veterinarian Amir Khalil, embarked on a dangerous cross-border operation to bring them to safety.

Reporting from Jordan, Sahar Zand meets Khalil as the rescued animals arrive at a wildlife sanctuary, and explores the extraordinary work taking him into some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones to save animals abandoned by war.

In this sound-rich radio report, broadcast across BBC radio programmes and language services, Sahar follows an often-overlooked consequence of conflict — and the people risking their lives to rescue its animal victims.

August 2017