Although many people in our region revere wildlife, too often we write about egregious abuse. Here are 7 of the saddest wildlife stories from the Middle East, and what you can do to help such harmful practices come to an end.

Many people living in the Middle East believe that it is haram to harm animals, and all kinds of excellent conservation work is taking place in Egypt, Iraq, and elsewhere. But too often we feature stories about rich Arabs who think it’s cool to capture cheetahs and other wild animals and keep them as pets, or about dolphins and lions that are confined to filthy, tiny spaces in order to lure tourists.

Sometimes ignorance lies at the root of animal abuse, while at other times people are simply trying to earn a living, but compassion and biodiversity preservation projects can benefit everyone. Step in for 7 of the saddest wildlife stories in the Middle East and be inspired to help your neighbor re-think his relationship to these magnificent creatures.