From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Police say 16th smuggled monkey found in south
Police have rescued yet another monkey from a Bedouin village in the Negev, the 16th primate seized in recent weeks as part of an ongoing investigation into an animal trafficking ring that has been smuggling monkeys and lion cubs into Israel.
The monkey was located in an open area near the Bedouin village of Bir Hadaj by detectives from the Segev Shalom police station and the Border Police’s southern district, police say.
It has been transferred to the Nature and Parks Authority for further treatment.
Police note that some of the lion cubs and monkeys are in poor health, presumably following abuse endured in captivity.
A monkey located by police in Tel Sheva earlier this month died of tetanus due to the harsh conditions it was kept in.
Police say that they have rescued 10 monkeys and two lion cubs in the Negev region alone, and a total of 16 monkeys and four lions in total as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Times of Israel Community.