The Presence Of Pigs In Afghanistan: Cultural And Economic Significance

There is only one pig in Afghanistan. His name is Khanzir, which means pig in Pashto, one of the national languages of Afghanistan. He lives in the Kabul Zoo and is the only pig in the country because eating pork is considered haram in Afghanistan, and even touching a pig is forbidden under certain interpretations of Islamic beliefs.

The only pig in Afghanistan is called Khanzir

Khanzir is a resident of Kabul Zoo and is the only pig in Afghanistan, a predominantly Islamic country where the sale of pork is forbidden. As a result, Afghanistan has no pig farms.

Khanzir, whose name means "pig" in Pashto, one of the national languages of Afghanistan, was given to the zoo as a piglet by China in 2002, along with a female pig and a pair of brown bears.

In 2006, a zoo caretaker accidentally left the door to the brown bears' cage open, and one of the bears got into the pigs' enclosure. The bear attacked Khanzir's brood, killing the piglets. Zoo authorities rescued Khanzir, but his mate was severely injured in the attack and later died.

Khanzir's celebrity status is derived from the fact that he is the only pig in all of Afghanistan. Visitors come from far and wide to catch a glimpse of him. He likes to lie in the sun and sometimes trots over to greet onlookers.

In 2009, during a worldwide outbreak of swine flu, Khanzir was placed in quarantine due to visitors' concerns that he would spread the disease. The zoo's director, Aziz Gul Saqib, explained that Khanzir was healthy and that the only reason for the quarantine was to address visitors' worries.

Today, Khanzir may be a lonely pig, but he has developed a special relationship with his caretakers, who feed him daily and clean his enclosure. Shah Barat, a longtime zoo caretaker, told the Washington Post, "Like all the animals I care for at the zoo, Khanzir is my friend. I would be very sad if something were to happen to him."

Khanzir lives in Kabul Zoo

Khanzir is a celebrity in Afghanistan. Visitors come from far and wide to see him, as most Afghans have never seen a pig in their lives. He likes to lie in the sun and sprawl across the grass in his enclosure. He sometimes trots over to greet onlookers and seems to know that he is popular.

Khanzir was not always alone. He had a mate, and together they had a litter of piglets. However, in 2006, a zoo caretaker accidentally left the door to the brown bears' cage open, and one of the bears attacked the pigs' enclosure. The piglets were killed, and the female pig was badly injured and later died.

Khanzir faced some external opposition in 2009 during a worldwide swine flu epidemic. Afghan officials placed him in quarantine after visitors, who knew little about swine flu, feared he would make them sick. Some people even called for Khanzir to be euthanized. However, he had more friends than enemies and was protected by loyal zoo workers.

Today, Khanzir is old and frail, and zoo authorities are working to find him a partner. They have requested help from other nations to populate the zoo with different species of animals, but no one has committed to sending a friend for Khanzir yet.

Eating pork is considered haram in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, eating pork is considered haram, or forbidden, according to Islamic law. This prohibition is derived from the Holy Quran, which serves as the sacred book of revelation from God for Muslims. Several verses in the Quran explicitly prohibit the consumption of pork, making it a fundamental religious restriction for followers of Islam.

One such verse can be found in Surah Al Ma'idah 5:3, which states:

> "Forbidden to you are carrion, blood, and swine; what is slaughtered in the name of any other than Allah; what is killed by strangling, beating, a fall, or by being gored to death; what is partly eaten by a predator unless you slaughter it; and what is sacrificed on altars."

Additionally, Surah An-Nahl 16:115 states:

> "He {Allah) has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah, But whoever is forced (by necessity) neither desiring (it) nor transgressing (it limit) – then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."

These verses provide clear guidance to Muslims on the impermissibility of consuming pork.

The prohibition on eating pork is further reinforced by the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Hadith supplements the Quran and is believed to contain the truth of the Prophet's recordings concerning God's orders. According to the Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

> "Allah forbade wine and the price paid for it, forbade dead meat and the price paid for it, and forbade swine and the price paid for it."

Beyond the religious teachings, there are also cultural and health-related reasons why eating pork is considered haram in Afghanistan. From a cultural perspective, the avoidance of pork has become an integral part of Islamic culture and identity. It serves as a marker of religious affiliation and solidarity among Muslims. Additionally, abstaining from pork symbolizes self-control and discipline, demonstrating respect for the religion's traditions.

In terms of health, pigs are known to carry various harmful diseases and parasites, such as trichinosis and tapeworms, which can pose significant risks to humans if consumed. Pigs are considered scavengers and are known to eat almost anything, including carrion and refuse, which is deemed unclean in Islam.

In summary, the consumption of pork is considered haram in Afghanistan due to a combination of religious, cultural, and health-related reasons. The prohibition is rooted in the Quran and the Hadith, with several verses explicitly forbidding the consumption of pork. Additionally, the avoidance of pork has become a cultural marker of Islamic identity, and there are health concerns associated with the consumption of pork due to the potential presence of harmful parasites and diseases.

In 2009, Khanzir was quarantined due to swine flu fears

In 2009, Khanzir, the only pig in Afghanistan, was quarantined due to swine flu fears. He was placed in quarantine for a few weeks to address the concerns of visitors to the Kabul Zoo, where he lived. At the time, there was a worldwide outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) ("swine flu"), and the Afghan public became alarmed, with some even suggesting that Khanzir be euthanised.

Aziz Gul Saqib, the director of the Kabul Zoo, explained that Khanzir was strong and healthy, and that the only reason for his quarantine was to placate the public and prevent panic among visitors, who had little knowledge about swine flu and were worried that they would get sick if they saw a pig. Saqib sent emails to other international zoos to find out if they had also quarantined their pigs.

Khanzir was moved to his winter house and spent days in solitude, receiving thrice-daily visits from his caretakers. One of them, Shah Barat, said, "He is very special to us. Like all the animals I care for at the zoo, Khanzir is my friend. I would be very sad if something were to happen to him."

Khanzir's mate and offspring were killed by a bear in 2006

In 2002, China gifted a male pig named Khanzir to the Kabul Zoo in Afghanistan. Four years later, in 2006, Khanzir's mate and offspring were killed by a bear.

Khanzir was given to the zoo as a piglet, along with a female pig and a pair of brown bears. A few years later, Khanzir and his mate had a litter of piglets. However, tragedy struck in 2006 when a zoo caretaker accidentally left the door to the brown bears' cage open, and one of the bears got into the pigs' enclosure. The bear attacked Khanzir's family, killing the piglets. Zoo authorities arrived just in time to rescue Khanzir and his mate, but the female pig later succumbed to her injuries.

Following this incident, Khanzir was left as the only pig in Afghanistan. He lived in a grassy enclosure at the zoo, with a small pond and a concrete shelter for when he wanted to be alone. Despite his advanced age and generous girth—weighing in at over 500 pounds—Khanzir continued to be popular with visitors, who came from far and wide to catch a glimpse of him.

In 2009, during a worldwide swine flu epidemic, government authorities grew concerned about a potential outbreak in Afghanistan and considered euthanizing Khanzir. However, the zoo director, Aziz Gul Saqib, quarantined him for a few weeks to placate the public and protect the pig.

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