Israeli Authorities Rescue Illegal Green Monkey Kept in Jericho Home

During the night of Tuesday, Israeli police from the Judea and Samaria district, soldiers from the Beka'a and Valleys Brigade, and inspectors from the Nature and Parks Authority conducted a court-ordered search of a residence in Jericho. The operation, supported by intelligence from the David and Gilad districts, uncovered a green vervet monkey illegally confined in a cage inside the home. The monkey was seized and transferred to the Israeli Monkey Sanctuary for care.

A woman in her 30s from Ramla was arrested and questioned by the Nature and Parks Authority on suspicion of illegal trade, hunting, and possession of a protected wild animal. She was released under restrictive conditions and will be summoned for further investigation. The search involved multiple agencies, including the Beka'a police station, the Civil Administration's Nature Reserves Division, and the IDF's Lavi Battalion (47).

The case highlights ongoing enforcement efforts against illegal wildlife possession in the West Bank. The authorities emphasized the collaboration between security forces and environmental agencies to uphold wildlife protection laws.