Khanzir

Khanzir (Pashto: خنزير, lit. 'Pig') is a male pig exhibited at Kabul Zoo in Kabul, Afghanistan. The animal achieved fame as the only pig in Afghanistan, a predominantly Islamic country which has no pig farms because the eating of pork is not permitted.^[1]

In 2002, the People's Republic of China presented two piglets to the Kabul Zoo, both Khanzir and the female that became his mate.^[2] Kanzir and his mate produced piglets during the early years of the War in Afghanistan. The family of pigs was attacked by a brown bear that broke into the exhibit after a caretaker left a door open, and Khanzir was the only pig survivor.^[3][4][5][1]

Khanzir's status as "Afghanistan's lone pig" attracted international attention in May 2009, when he was moved into quarantine due to visitor concerns about the worldwide outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) ("swine flu").^[6] Aziz Gul Saqib, director of Kabul Zoo, explained that Khanzir was in fact "strong and healthy", noting that "The only reason we moved him was because Afghan people don't have a lot of knowledge about swine flu, and so when they see a pig they get worried and think they will get ill."^[2][7] He was released from quarantine after two months.^[8][9]

In 2016, Khanzir weighed 500 pounds, and his longtime zookeeper said, "He doesn't move much these days, but he shows enthusiasm every time he sees me, because he knows that I bring him food". That year, the zoo began to request pigs from foreign countries to give Khanzir a new companion, but none were sent.^[1]