This veterinarian specializes in rescuing animals from war-torn regions

Dr. Amir Khalil is not your average veterinarian. Born in Egypt and based in Austria for the past three decades, Khalil has led animal rescue operations and created sanctuaries around the world for more than 20 years in war zones—including Iraq, Sudan’s Darfur region, and Bosnia. 

He has calmed traumatized bears from Syria, vaccinated thousands of stray dogs in Myanmar, and carried out some of the riskiest rescue operations you’ve ever heard of. Just this year, Khalil and his team evacuated 47 animals—including lions, wolves, baboons, and ostriches — from a struggling zoo in the city of Rafah, in the Gaza Strip.

We could keep telling you more about this amazing veterinarian, but it’s much more enthralling to hear the stories behind these rescue operations straight from the source. To see the full story about Dr. Amir Khalil, have a look right here.