Percyval the Pangolin Saved: Operation to Rescue Animal from Illegal Trade

The association of donkeys, mules, and hinnies with negative traits, such as stubbornness and low intelligence, has deep historical roots, spanning over two millennia and not limited to the Portuguese language. Expressions like 'stubborn as a mule' in English and 'más terco que una mula' in Spanish reflect this tradition.

Intelligence of Equids

However, this label is considered unfair, given that equids—which include horses, hinnies, donkeys, and mules—are intelligent animals. Scientific research has proven that they possess the capacity for long-term memory storage, establish complex social relationships, and can be trained to perform specific tasks.

Differentiation of Species and Hybrids

It is important to distinguish the species: horses (Equus caballus) and hinnies (Equus asinus) are distinct. Hinnies are also known by names such as asses, geldings, or jerries, and these terms can be used pejoratively. Donkeys and mules are classified as hybrids resulting from the crossbreeding of a mare and a male hinnie. A hybrid formed by crossing a male horse with a hinnie is called a bardot, which is less common due to difficulties in gestation and lower aptitude for work, although its name has not become an insult.

Challenges in Animal Management

Some specialists suggest that the stigma may be linked to the differences in managing these animals. Chiara Albano, a professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), explains that 'taming hinnies and donkeys is more challenging than taming horses, because their natural behaviors are different.' She exemplifies that, when faced with a predator or danger, while horses tend to flee and observe from a distance, the hinnie tends to stop and analyze the situation, freezing if it perceives danger or distrust to ensure its safety.

Historical References of the Stigma

This prejudice is extremely old. In Aesop's Fables, dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries BC, donkeys were already used to personify individuals who were naive, stubborn, and vain. An even older reference comes from a second-century book, where the Roman author Lucius Apuleius, in 'The Golden Ass,' narrates the story of a man who transforms into an ass. In this context, the Latin expression *asinina cogitatio*, which literally means 'donkey thought,' was used to designate foolishness.

The solar revolution in Pakistan relies on the labor of workers who are forced to operate in intense heat. For instance, Abdul Rehman, who previously cleaned solar panels on Karachi rooftops during the hottest parts of the day, experienced a severe episode leading to dizziness and severe dehydration.

Experience and Risk Awareness

Rehman shared his experience, noting it was one of the worst moments, and realized he had to take care of himself because no one else would. This story is part of the CATCH project by Dialogue Earth in collaboration with Boston University, funded by the Wellcome Trust.

Pakistan is experiencing a boom in solar energy, which helps mitigate the immediate consequences of the war in Southwest Asia. According to an analysis by the Secure Energy Project, by February 2026, the country avoided importing over $12 billion worth of oil and gas and plans to save another $6.3 billion by the end of the current year.

Scale of Solar Energy Adoption

According to a recent report by energy analytical centers Ember and Renewables First, nearly one-fifth of Pakistani households use solar energy. The country's overall electricity demand growth of 21% in just two years has been fully met by new distributed solar generation, bringing the nation closer to the global average electrification rate.

However, this solar revolution rests on the shoulders of workers who install, maintain, and clean the panels. They often perform this unseen work in extreme heat without adequate safety measures.

Labor Issues and Worker Rights

Farooq Tariq, a human rights advocate and president of the Haqooq Khalq party, stated that while everyone involved in Pakistan's solar program has benefited, the workers engaged in this green energy revolution have gained no advantage, as they are deprived of rights and receive meager wages.

Rehman notes that clients expect the panels to be cleaned during the day, but he began objecting to these demands, suggesting work be done between 4 PM and midnight instead of during daylight hours. Nevertheless, Tariq points out that most young men cleaning panels in the city are 'labor migrants rushing to big cities in search of work' and are willing to perform tasks at any time of day.

Lack of Safety Measures

According to a technical report by Renewables First, the distributed solar energy industry in Pakistan created approximately 300,000 direct and 200,000 indirect jobs between the 2017 and 2025 fiscal years, with most concentrated in engineering, procurement, and construction.

Zehra Khan, a Pakistani trade union activist and Secretary General of the Federation of Women Working at Home, notes that data on manual laborers and installers is scarce because they often belong to the informal sector. Although training for potential solar technicians has become less rare, many program catalogs reviewed by Dialogue Earth focused mainly on equipment safety rather than safety measures, especially against heat.

Pakistan's Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act of 2018 does not explicitly mention heat stress, although it generally covers occupational hazards and risks to worker health, safety, and well-being. However, according to Tariq, the implementation of these regulations is insufficient, and he asserts that 'health and safety measures are practically non-existent for solar technicians and cleaners.'

Ad-hoc Work and Work Schedules

In Pakistan, some solar panel cleaners work on contract with companies that assign them slots, while others are permanent household maintenance staff. Muhammad Asif, 32, moved from South Punjab to work in a home in the prestigious Defence Housing Authority area of southern Karachi. Initially, he was tasked with observing and assisting a professional cleaner who came once a month. Now, after his employer acquired a pressure washer, Asif cleans the panels independently.

Asif reported that his employers are mindful of the heat, so they schedule work after 5 PM. He always carries a large towel and, even if it is hot in the evening, wets it and puts it on his head.

In Karachi, contracted cleaners are usually assigned time slots from 9 AM to 6 PM, and on average, cleaning one household's panels takes an hour, says Ali, an employee of the Karachi company Solar Sweep. This means some cleaning slots fall during peak heat hours.

Ali Habib, CEO of the consulting firm Sama Verte from Punjab, the parent company of Shama Solar, which specializes in comprehensive photovoltaic solar services, notes that the company has 'guidelines stating that solar panels should not be cleaned during the day when it is hot, as the sun shines brightly then and we achieve maximum solar energy output.'

Since solar panel workers are also at risk of electric shock, Shama Solar recommends using personal protective equipment (PPE) such as boots and helmets. Habib adds that a hat helps protect against heat. Due to the tight schedule for installing solar systems, Shama Solar workers are advised to perform indoor tasks, such as wiring or installing inverters and batteries, during the day, and panel installation in the evening.

Nadim Nawaz, a project manager at Shama Solar, indicates that installation work increases after April, meaning there are many more solar technicians on rooftops during the hottest months. He acknowledges that workers get sick and dehydrated from the heat and go to nearby hospitals, or are given the day off. However, atmospheric heat is not the only danger for solar energy workers. Nawaz notes that 'the frames and structures of solar panels are made of aluminum, so they heat up significantly, and technicians' hands can burn, but it is too hot to wear thick protective gloves,' adding that some technicians refuse to wear protective gear due to the heat. At the same time, Nawaz believes that working at night is impractical because 'additional light sources are required at night, and visibility is limited, making it unsafe.'

Long-term Health Risks

Safety experts advise using specialized protective gear to combat heat and direct sunlight. PPE supplier Oteplace from France recommends that renewable energy workers use a set including wide-brimmed hats, UV-filtered sunglasses, and special evaporative vests that can be soaked in water for cooling.

However, according to doctors interviewed by Dialogue Earth, most solar energy workers in Pakistan do not have access to such equipment, leaving them vulnerable to heatstroke, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance.

Asia Shahab, a doctor who frequently organizes medical camps to assist the underprivileged in Karachi and its suburbs, warns: 'Even death remains a real possibility.' Doctors are also concerned about the long-term effects of UV radiation on solar technicians. Shahab explains that if panels are installed during peak heat hours when the sun is at its zenith, it can lead to intense UV radiation as sunlight reflects off light roofs.

She adds that such exposure can cause sunburn in just 10 minutes, leading to skin drying and premature aging, as well as eye diseases such as cataracts, eye tissue growth, and photokeratitis (sunburn of the eyes). Mariam Noaman, head of the Department of Medical Oncology at Dow Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre in Karachi, states that chronic exposure to UV radiation 'is a well-established cause of skin cancer.' She explains that UV rays cause cumulative DNA damage and can lead to mutations in important tumor suppressor genes, as well as impairing local skin immune surveillance. Over time, these changes increase the risk of developing skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. She emphasizes that 'individuals with prolonged professional sun exposure, including solar technicians, are at high risk.'

According to estimates by the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization for 2023, nearly a third of non-melanoma skin cancer deaths are caused by working in the sun.

Lack of Compensation Mechanisms

Zehra Khan notes that despite high vulnerability to heat stress, solar industry workers are not discussed in political debates and are not legally recognized. She states: 'There are no official laws protecting or ensuring the well-being of workers in solar energy.'

This means that if they suffer from extreme heat or any other occupational hazards, they have no systems for receiving treatment support. Khan adds: 'There is no available data on their numbers or details, so how can they participate in any political discussions or labor agreements?'

She stresses that this applies not only to installers and panel cleaners but to everyone in the solar energy supply chain, such as those involved in grounding. Khan insists that all such workers must be registered with social services like the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI) or the Employees’ Old Age Benefit Institution (EOBI).

There may be hope on the horizon for improving heat safety for solar energy workers. Pakistan recently approved an Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) Code of Practice for the construction sector, which establishes legally binding standards to strengthen the protection of workers' health and safety in this industry. The International Labour Organization noted that this code is based on internationally recognized standards, including the ILO's own Code of Practice on Occupational Safety in Construction, which contains a section on heat stress.

Pakistan's new code applies to builders in the informal economy and may support solar system installation workers in the long run. Rabia Razzaq, an ILO Senior Programme Officer in Pakistan, confirmed that the new code covers 'broad terms to cover all electrical system equipment,' including solar energy. The main measures provided by the code include fall protection, electrical safety, ergonomic handling of objects, PPE, and emergency preparedness to reduce physical, electrical, chemical, and environmental hazards. It also includes proper training, risk assessment, and adherence to occupational health management systems. Khan concludes: 'Solar industry workers are invisible workers who need to be made visible.'

A recent investigation, presented at the National Astronomy Meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society in Birmingham, suggests that intense solar events can affect the lower layer of Mars' atmosphere when they occur simultaneously with large dust storms.

Analysis of Solar Events on Mars

The study examined episodes of solar energetic particles and identified signs of heating in a specific situation. This case occurred in June 2018, when a planetary-scale dust storm hit the red planet, coinciding with a solar energetic particle event.

The research was conducted by specialists from the Universities of Lancaster and Leicester, as well as the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia, located in Spain. For this analysis, the team used data provided by NASA's MAVEN probes and the European Space Agency's Trace Gas Orbiter, comparing temperatures recorded before, during, and after five distinct solar events.

Interaction Between Space Phenomena and Climate

Scientists emphasize that although the finding suggests a little-explored interaction between space phenomena and Martian climate, it does not yet establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship. The researchers were seeking to understand whether long periods of solar energetic particles (SEPs) could modify the temperature of the lower layers of the Martian atmosphere, where the planet's meteorological phenomena occur.

Of the five events analyzed, four did not show clear changes linked to atmospheric heating. The notable exception was the June 2018 episode, which occurred exactly when a dust storm swept across the entire surface of Mars.

Statements from the Principal Researcher

Lana Williams, a researcher at the University of Lancaster and leader of the study, clarified that the initial expectation was to observe some impact of solar particles on the low atmosphere's temperature, but the data did not confirm this pattern in most cases. She stated: 'We expected these highly energetic particles to have some effect on the low atmosphere temperatures of Mars, but in four of the five events studied we found no clear evidence of heating. The only exception occurred while a global dust storm was expanding across the planet.'

The 2018 episode was also marked by the loss of communications with the NASA's Opportunity rover due to the intense dust storm that obscured much of the planet, preventing solar panel light capture.

Comparison of Space Mission Data

To investigate the possible link between solar activity and atmospheric variations, scientists integrated information from various orbital instruments on Mars. The MAVEN probe monitors the interaction between the solar wind and the upper Martian atmosphere, while the Trace Gas Orbiter measures aspects such as atmospheric composition and structure. The records collected by the missions were compared with the temperature profiles predicted in the Mars Climate Database.

The team evaluated the atmospheric conditions before, during, and after the solar particle events, aiming to identify deviations from the expected pattern and determine if such changes could be connected to the arrival of particles from the Sun.

Implications for Climate Models

The authors stress that a single event is not enough to conclude that the combination of a dust storm and solar activity generates heating. New similar episodes will be necessary to confirm the recurrence of the phenomenon or to identify other factors that may explain the observed data.

Unlike Earth, Mars has a thin atmosphere and lacks a robust global magnetic field to protect it from solar energetic particles. Consequently, events generated by solar flares and coronal mass ejections can reach the surface more easily. Although previous research has pointed out the effects of these particles on the upper Martian atmosphere—such as ionization, formation of diffuse auroras, and interference with radio signals—the impacts on the lower layers remain poorly understood.

Dust storms are known to heat certain areas of the Martian atmosphere by absorbing solar radiation. However, in this new study, researchers observed a heating pattern distinct from one typically linked only to storms.

The coincidence between high solar activity and a global dust storm was not initially part of the work's hypothesis. This correlation emerged when the team realized that only one of the five analyzed events exhibited significant atmospheric heating. According to Lana Williams, the simultaneous presence of the dust storm was an unforeseen discovery during the data analysis. The researcher assesses that the behavior of the Martian atmosphere may be the result of the combined action of multiple factors, and not isolated responses to each energy source. The astronomers involved believe that the possible interaction between solar particles, dust storms, and the heating of the lower atmosphere requires further in-depth studies. The results may help improve Martian climate models and guide future interpreters of temperature measurements during periods of intense solar activity and large dust storms.