Israeli Forces Rescue Illegal Green Monkey From Jericho Home

Israeli police, IDF soldiers, and Nature and Parks Authority inspectors raided a residence in Jericho overnight Tuesday following intelligence reports of an illegally kept monkey. During the search, authorities found a green vervet monkey confined in a cage and rescued it. The operation was conducted under a court order amid suspicions of unlawful possession of the animal.

The raid involved officers from the Beqaa police station, Nature and Parks Authority inspectors, the Civil Administration's nature reserves coordinator, personnel from the Jericho Coordination and Liaison Office, and fighters from the Lavi Battalion 47 of the Beqaa and Valleys Brigade. The intelligence was provided by the David and Gilad districts in the Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria regions.

The monkey was handed over to the Nature and Parks Authority and transferred to the Israeli Monkey Sanctuary for care. A woman in her 30s from Ramla was arrested on suspicion of illegal wildlife trade, hunting, and possession of a protected wild animal. She was interrogated and released under restrictive conditions but is expected to be summoned for further investigation.

The police, IDF, and Nature and Parks Authority emphasized their ongoing cooperation to combat illegal wildlife trade and possession, ensuring public safety and animal welfare. The Nature and Parks Authority urged the public to report any cases of protected wild animals being held illegally, providing a hotline number for contact.