Bringing the ibex back home

While the security establishment pushes for a quicker completion of the construction of a security fence along Israel’s border with Egypt, the Nature and Parks Authority is rushing to lure back dozens of ibex to the Israeli side of the border before they are fenced into Egypt permanently, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Sunday.

According to the IDF website, the fence will span approximately 240 kilometers (150 miles) from the Kerem Shalom crossing to Taba and is aimed at preventing infiltrators and smugglers from entering Israel. It was originally scheduled to be completed by January 2013, but following an attack in August 2011 in which terrorists from Gaza entered Israel via Egypt killing 8, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an acceleration in the work, with the new projected date of completion being September 2012.

In the meantime, the desert ibex are unaware of and unconcerned with the political ramifications. They have migrated south in search of water sources found in Egypt. But officials in the Nature and Parks Authority would prefer they return to Israel, where grass and food are more plentiful. The Israelis are also concerned that the ibex may easily become prey to hunters if they stay on the Egyptian side of the fence.

To entice the animals back into Israel, the Authority has left strategically placed feeding points along routes most commonly used by the ibex. The security fence will contain openings through which smaller animals, such as rabbits and foxes can pass, but animals the size of ibex will be unable to cross back and forth.