Israeli authorities rescued a protected monkey from illegal captivity during a nighttime raid on a residence in Jericho on Tuesday, following intelligence that a wild animal was being held at the location.
The operation was carried out under court warrant by a joint task force including officers from the Bik'a (Jordan Valley) police station under the Gilad district, inspectors from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, the Civil Administration's nature reserve officer, the Jericho military coordination office, and soldiers from the IDF's 47th Battalion. Intelligence from the David district in the Jerusalem police command and the Gilad district in the Judea and Samaria police command guided the operation.
During the search, forces discovered a green vervet monkey confined in a cage inside the home, in violation of Israeli wildlife protection laws. The animal was transferred to Nature and Parks Authority inspectors and subsequently taken to the Israeli Primate Sanctuary for care.
A woman in her 30s from the city of Ramla was arrested and questioned by the Nature and Parks Authority in connection with the case. She was released under restrictive conditions and will be summoned for further investigation on suspicion of illegal trafficking, hunting, and possession of a protected wild animal.
