Israeli Course Teaches Tracking Skills to Find Missing Persons and Stolen Items in the Desert

A unique tracking course in Israel’s Arava desert is attracting diverse participants, including a writer, a high-tech worker, and a school janitor, all learning to track people and objects by reading subtle signs in nature. The course, led by Omri Shakutai, focuses on "human tracking," a skill traditionally associated with Bedouin trackers, teaching participants to interpret footprints, tire marks, and environmental clues to locate missing persons, stolen vehicles, or hidden items.

Ditsa Noy, a high-tech professional from Mazkeret Batya, joined the course during a period of unemployment and found herself fascinated by the challenge of decoding natural signs. The course involves practical exercises, such as a night search for a hidden ammunition magazine in the desert and a daytime search for a stolen car, requiring participants to analyze minimal initial information and piece together clues through observation and questioning.

The course emphasizes the cognitive skills involved in tracking, such as attention to detail and understanding environmental changes, rather than just physical endurance. Participants learn to distinguish their own tracks from those they seek and use flashlights at night to detect shadows and textures invisible during the day. The training also includes understanding weather effects and terrain to better interpret signs.

Omri Shakutai aims to professionalize this skill set, advocating for dedicated tracking teams to assist in non-security-related missing person searches, which currently rely heavily on untrained volunteers. Another instructor, Niki Levi, highlights the psychological benefits of tracking courses, offering participants a sense of control and empowerment, especially in the aftermath of traumatic events like the October 7 attacks.

The course attracts people from varied backgrounds, including Thierry Lescart, a French immigrant with a military and jungle anti-smuggling background, and author Tamar Weiss Gabay, who integrates her newfound passion for nature tracking into her writing. The training culminates in complex field exercises simulating real-life scenarios, reinforcing the importance of curiosity, patience, and analytical thinking in tracking. Shakutai stresses that while knowledge of footwear and environmental signs is crucial, the mindset and attentiveness of the tracker are equally vital.

The program reflects a growing interest in reclaiming traditional tracking knowledge and adapting it for modern rescue and investigative needs, blending ancient skills with contemporary challenges in Israel’s diverse landscapes.