Israeli Police Rescue Monkey Held Illegally in Jericho Home

Israeli police, along with the Nature and Parks Authority inspectors and IDF soldiers, raided a house in Jericho on Tuesday night and found a green guenon monkey confined in a cage. The operation was conducted under a court order following suspicions of illegal wildlife possession. A woman in her 30s from Ramla was arrested and interrogated by the Nature and Parks Authority. She was later released under restrictive conditions and will be summoned again as part of the ongoing investigation into suspected wildlife trafficking, hunting, and illegal possession of a protected wild animal.

The raid was carried out with intelligence guidance from the David District in the Jerusalem area and the Gilad District in the Judea and Samaria region. Police stated that they, together with the IDF and the Nature and Parks Authority, will continue to act decisively to combat illegal trade in protected wildlife while ensuring public safety and animal welfare.

The Nature and Parks Authority urged the public to report any illegal possession of protected wild animals immediately. This incident follows a similar case last week in the Palestinian village of Raa'i near Jenin, where border police and Nature and Parks Authority inspectors rescued a gazelle held illegally in a private home. The gazelle was transferred for veterinary care and is expected to be relocated to the Ramat Gan Safari. Authorities plan to file charges against the suspect in that case for illegal hunting and possession of a protected wild animal.