Israeli police officers from the Towns Station, working alongside Border Police fighters and the Southern Wildlife Crime Investigation Unit, conducted an enforcement operation over the weekend at the home of a resident in his 30s in Moshav Berakhya, located in central Israel. During the operation, authorities discovered a green vervet monkey confined in a cage, a clear violation of Israel's wildlife protection laws.
Wildlife Crime in Central Israel
Monkey Rescued from Illegal Captivity
Police and nature authorities removed the protected primate from a private residence in Moshav Berakhya, where it was being kept in a cage in violation of wildlife protection laws
Officers removed the monkey from the premises and transferred it to inspectors from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. The primate was subsequently taken to the Israeli Primate Sanctuary, where it will receive ongoing care and medical examinations. The suspect was arrested and questioned on suspicion of illegal trafficking and possession of a protected wild animal. He was later released under restrictive conditions pending further legal proceedings.
The Israel Police and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority emphasized that keeping primates in private captivity is prohibited and constitutes a serious offense. The ban exists in large part due to the significant harm that can be inflicted on these sensitive animals, which have complex care requirements, particularly social needs that humans cannot adequately fulfill. Authorities continue to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade to protect vulnerable species.
The monkey that was located and the cage in which it was kept| צילום: Israel Police and Nature and Parks Authority Spokesperson's Unit
