Israel rounds up traffic-stopping stray camels
30 animals, which had been left to roam near roads, were treated by a vet, vaccinated, and returned to their owners, with a fine
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Government agencies on Sunday rounded up some 30 stray camels that were roaming near the road and posed a danger to drivers.
The Agriculture Ministry along with the Environmental Protection Ministry’s Green Police found the beasts in the south of the country, according to a statement from the ministry.
The animals were taken to a facility belonging to the Agriculture Ministry, checked by a vet and vaccinated. Their owners were located and summoned for questioning.
The animals were then returned to them, on condition that they not leave them untended near the road.
Since the beginning of 2017, Agriculture Ministry inspectors in the south have taken over 200 camels found without grazing permits. The total fines given came to more than NIS 110,000 ($31,000). Some camels were found in IDF firing zones.
Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel (Jewish Home) said that, “roaming camels are a real danger to drivers on the road, and they are the sole responsibility of their owners. Therefore, in the past year, we have increased our inspections of the roads in the south. We will use every effort to punish those who break the law and we will not allow lives to be put in danger.”
A year ago, a woman was killed after her car hit three stray camels that had wandered onto a Negev highway.
Stray camels wandering Negev roads are responsible for dozens of car accidents each year.
The Times of Israel Community.