Man Jailed for Illegally Holding Endangered Animals

A Jerusalem court has sentenced a man to 50 days in prison for illegally keeping a monkey and a chameleon in his backyard for at least a month without a permit. The court also imposed a NIS 10,000 fine, suspended sentences, and a NIS 50,000 bond to prevent future offenses within three years. The animals were confiscated and placed under state care.

Both the monkey and the chameleon were found in poor physical condition and inadequate living conditions. The monkey was restrained by a heavy iron chain attached to its waist, confined in a cage, and further restricted by a leash that caused wounds to its abdomen. The chameleon was kept in substandard conditions and was underweight and weak.

The man was convicted of three offenses: possessing a protected wild animal, possessing a protected natural value, and harming a protected natural value, according to Israeli wildlife and nature protection laws.

Advocate Shay Peretz, chief prosecutor for the Nature and Parks Authority, stated that the sentence sends a clear message that protected wild animals are not pets and that illegal possession can lead to actual imprisonment.