animals

IN PHOTOS: Israel's winged winter residents

While many species of birds are involved in migrations and just pass over Israel, around 100 species choose the Holy Land as their winter home.

Watch: Thousands of migrating pelicans get free lunch in Israel

Pelicans migrate from southern Europe to spend the winters in central Africa.

Bird makes a rare stop in Israel after 'wrong turn'

The dowitcher was last seen in Israel in the Dan region in 1984.

Migrating starlings swoop over southern Israel

Migrating starlings create beautiful murmurations in the sky in southern Israel, where they are spending their winter.

Rihanna the rhino gives birth to first calf at Israeli zoo

Rami the rhino is the 29th rhino to be born in the Ramat Gan Safari; both baby and mother are doing well.

Animals from Gaza's ‘worst zoo in the world’ reach their new homes

The Vienna-based Four Paws International, which has long described the Khan Younis Zoo as the worst in the world, rescued the animals from desolate conditions last Wednesday.

Economic committee chairman calls for guidelines to protect animals during live shipments

Critics called the policy of shipping live cows and sheep by boat from Australia or Europe for slaughter in Israel animal abuse.

Ministerial Committee opposes bill to stop live animal shipment

Meretz MK Tamar Zandberg says the practice “causes suffering to hundreds of thousands of animals annually and has not managed to lower prices.”

A feast for the eyes and the brain

A new Hebrew translation of the best-selling English-language ‘Animal Museum’ has just arrived.

Tel Aviv University researchers: Bats learn 'dialects' from their nest-mates

Young bats from the age of six months adopt a specific "dialect" spoken by their own colonies.

Mechanism discovered to extend life of mice by tens of percentage points

There is potential for the same mechanism to be applied to humans as well.

Cracking the mystery of the avian egg shape

To unravel the mystery of egg shape, an international team of researchers used a multi-step, multidisciplinary process and applied tools from many fields of science and mathematics.

Hebrew University innovation means bigger fish to fry

While wild fisheries have been declining for the last 20 years, aquaculture has become the world’s fastest-growing food-producing sector.

Israeli researchers decipher how jellyfish shoot poisoned arrows

Unlocking the mysteries of the jellyfish’s burning mechanism.

Vivisection in Israeli research on the rise

Israel is also researching methods to reduce the necessity of animal experimentation.

New Worlds: How did birds and mammals become warm blooded?

The analysis of 300 million years of evolution and the discovery of the molecular basis of how warm-blooded animals emerged was conducted by Prof. Dan Mishmar and his student Liron Levin.

Mouse teeth show man lived in settlements 3,000 years earlier than thought

Bat chatter has implications for human communication

Tel Aviv University researchers analyze 15,000 calls to see which signal friend or foe.

Israel Police catch thieves with 8 goats crammed in their trunk

Police in northern Israel stopped a vehicle that was found to have eight stolen goats in the trunk.

Sherman the overweight hedgehog trims down in time for spring

After feasting on cat food, Sherman the hedgehog has made remarkable strides in shedding his extra grams.

Overweight hedgehog finds new home in Ramat Gan Safari

While a chubby hedgehog may sound endearing, Sherman experienced difficulty walking due to his extra weight.

SPNI, Waze identify most dangerous roads for animals

“The information coming today from Waze users is invaluable to nature, and it illustrates the depth of the problem of wildlife run-overs.”

Waze and SPNI team up to prevent wildlife from becoming roadkill

The new feature will allow the nature group to determine the country's most dangerous spots for animals and find solutions for their safe passage.

Tel Aviv launches Digi-Dog service for its 25,000 canines

The start-up nation brings its innovative talents to man's best friend with a new service aimed at helping Tel Aviv's resident dogs.

Sabbatical lions and elephants

For years, Jerusalem’s Biblical Zoo has been an oasis of respectful coexistence among all the different communities in the city – religious, haredim, Jews and Arabs alike – all aimed at adults and children alike enjoying this wonderful place.

Galloping forward

The Gazelle Valley green lung looks to add a visitors center, wading ponds, outdoor classrooms and shaded areas, as its guardians remain wary of money-making schemes to exploit the space.

The screech of the songbird

The Eurasian jay is a common resident of Israeli towns and villages that have parks and green spaces.

Cover that dog

Taking a look at a canine health fund.

Passover break of biblical proportions...

... at the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens.

Seeking good homes: Rescuing Jerusalem's dogs from animal cruelty

An incident in Jerusalem that aroused fury among dog lovers and animal organizations has prompted MK Itzik Shmuli of the Zionist Union party to convene a special meeting.

Even dogs deserve an old age home

When elderly dogs are left without care, Hofshi steps up and gives them a home and plenty of TLC.

IN PICTURES: Primates prepare for Passover at Ramat Gan Zoo

The Ramat Gan Safari Park gets ready for the upcoming holiday.

Israeli shepherdess uses modern sheep breed to revive ancient shofar sound

Turning her flock's horns into shofars is part of God's plan, says Lewinsky, who calls herself a "traditional and God-fearing Jew."

Israeli giraffes receive giant hamantash for Purim

While giraffes can't make noise during the megila reading, they are able to enjoy a tasty hamantash!

Police shepherds stolen flock back to owner

Bleeting thefts victims traced down thanks to intense police work.

Reducing violence by teaching compassion toward animals

“The program was meant to help animals but it turns out it is helping reduce violence in general”.

Calls mount for reining in Beduin camel owners after boy's death in crash

Camel accidents have taken the lives of fifteen people since 2008 and injured 350 others.

The number of rabid animals rose 250% last year, mostly from abroad

The data were based on actual bodies of animals examined in Agriculture Ministry labs and suspected of being infected with rabies.

First time in Israel: Ancient deer bones discovered near Sea of Galilee

The remains are estimated to be 9 million years old.

Watch: Hippo escapes Israeli safari

The Ramat Gan Safari opened an investigation into the incident.

Israeli-led team completes first-ever analysis of all reptiles

The project, which has taken almost a decade, is expected to help conserve nature and the world’s variety of reptiles.

The social media practice of the Israeli Hyrax

Dr. Amiel Illany from Israel breaks new grounds in the understanding of how Hyraxes maintain their complex social connections.

WATCH: Snakes in your green salad

Shoppers in the Israeli Shufersal chain were surprised to find a live snake in the vegetable department.

WATCH: Thousands flock to mass Tel Aviv rally for animal rights

The protest's organizers say that it is one of the largest of its kind in history.

Top 10 things to do

Check out what's going on this week.

Ship carrying infected animals headed to Israel

The Maltese ship is carrying some diseased livestock, claims animal-rights group.

Israel shuts down breeding grounds of country's unofficial national dog

With the historic Canaan dog breeding site recently demolished, what does the future have in store for the national Israeli friend walking on all fours?

Volunteers patrol Lag Ba’omer bonfires to rescue animals from flames

Air pollution levels dangerously high as Israelis end up kindling blazes two nights in a row following rabbinical intervention concerning Shabbat.

Judge blocks new neighborhood next to Biblical Zoo over animal welfare

Animal rights group argues noise and dust would harm species

Israel’s ‘Tyrannosaurus rex’?

The Hai-Bar Yotvata Nature Reserve, with its not-so-reserved ostriches, is the closest you’ll ever feel to being in Jurassic Park.

Sea Israel: The Gottesman Aquarium to open in Jerusalem

New opportunity to observe the wonders of the sea in Israel's landlocked capital.

Authorities thwart attempt to smuggle live songbirds into Gaza

Goldfinches are considered a rare and highly sought-after animal in the Arab sector.

Watch: Shark frenzy hits northern Israeli coast

Some 150 bull and sandbar sharks have migrated to the Hadera River estuary, where the waters are heated by emission from a nearby power station.

Fate of 1,250 monkeys in central Israel remains uncertain

Activists fought to end exports, minimize experimentation on macaques

Agriculture Ministry suspends air transports of live cattle to Israel

An abnormal number of the calves died during a flight from Hungary last week.

Historic Sha’ar Hagai kennels to shut down

Evicted breeder will move to Italy.

Activists march in Jerusalem to demand better treatment of livestock

Organizer: It’s time to think about the relationship between humans and animals.

Tel Aviv University calls abuse accusations by animal rights group ‘outrageous, ridiculous’

Zoological center volunteer claims rodents kept in crowded, cruel conditions.

Israeli activists boost efforts against live animal shipments

Today is international ‘Animals Are Not Freight’ day.

White rhino ‘Tupak’ newest addition to Ramat Gan Safari

Tanda gives birth to ‘warrior.’

Canines, and their owners, enjoy the country’s first-ever ‘Dog Day’

Most of the animals at the event milled around nonchalantly, both running free in the dog park and socializing on leashes as their owners explored the booths.

Report: Traveling zoo set up on Holocaust execution site in Ukraine

"In August 1942, the last workers of the Jewish ghetto were killed there. A few thousand people, from 2,500 to 6,000 according to various sources.”

Bats in the bus station: Tel Aviv hub houses makeshift cave

Hundreds of bats appear to be nesting in an abandoned terminal in the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station.

Medical research on higher animals declines

Primates comprised just 1.5% of animals for experimentation.

Aquarium showcasing local fauna comes to Jerusalem's Biblical Zoo

The 33 tanks include many species such as stingrays, clownfish, sea urchins, and sharks.

Havdala- a distinction: The strange meaning of being human

The siddur is teaching us, indeed forcing us to admit, that we are human beings with the abilities of God but with the psyches of beasts.

BarkSpeak, Part 2

BarkSpeak: the style in which, so often, members of the Israeli government and religious establishment address American Jews.

Vulture culture

Harnessed to freedom

Guide dogs give blind people self-confidence to achieve social integration, to study and find employment. Providing this freedom is the aim of the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind.

Life Lessons: Animals Behaving Badly

The subject of this column: animals behaving badly; Specifically, my cats; More specifically, Samantha the Cat, aka STC, and The Sally Cat, aka TSC.

The Agama lizard: A cold-blooded friend

The agama is common in the Middle East and is beneficial to humans.

City Notes: Nomadic music festival sweeping through Judean Desert oasis

News from around the nation.

Tree frog frolics

With the disappearing water habitats, the wonderful creatures that live in and around them are also vanishing.

Donkey days

on both sides of the border.

Iraqi, Syrian Lions Find New Home In South Africa

Lions rescued from Mideast conflict zones transferred to animal sanctuary

Gazan zookeeper takes to social media to sell lion cubs

Muhammad Ahmad Jumaa wrote in a Facebook post that he was selling the cubs for $5,000 each, and that the profits would go towards taking care of the pride of lions in the zoo.

Camels caught up in Qatar feud get over border hump

Hundreds of Qataris keep camels in desert areas in eastern Saudi Arabia during winter months to train and breed them for races and beauty contests.

Snake on a plane: Serpent stalls Dubai-bound flight

Baggage handlers found the potentially-venomous vagabond in the aircraft's cargo hold.

Israelis and Palestinians partner to save animal shelter

"This is not about politics this is not religious, this is pure human ethics.”

International group treats animals at ‘world’s worst zoo’ in Gaza

FOUR PAWS says it found ‘devastating conditions’ in Khan Yunis site.

From Gaza to the West Bank: Lioness makes way to new zoo via border crossing

The transfer of the latest lioness marks the 5th transfer in eighteenth months of the large-cat breed from Gaza to the West Bank.

A lost dog and his favorite TV show

Israel Police help identify missing pet - by letting him sing through the phone to his owner.

Barbra Streisand cloned her dog

Streisand had cells taken from her last beloved pet, a dog named Samantha, before she died in 2017.

Watch: Israeli dog goes viral for howling like ambulance sirens

The dog's owner said the feedback she has received from watchers has been very positive.

A monkey and a chicken have become best friends at Ramat Gan Safari

The Asian monkey has been hanging out with the chicken on a regular basis.

Barbra Streisand mourns death of her beloved dog, Sammie

The American entertainment icon posts loving commemorative photo on social media, announcing her pet's death.

Tel Aviv animal clinic heals snail with broken shell

The snail, who has been named Shevy, was suffering from a broken shell after a person stepped on him accidentally.

A dog watches a horror movie, his reaction is priceless!

After watching this, you're never going to question whether dogs are a man's best friend.

This is how cats catch their rides in Thailand...

After all Darwin was right, adapt and evolve.

Guinea Pigs Don’t Like Sharing Food

WATCH: Kittens are the best audience

This cute video of kittens listening to a busker in Malaysia has gone viral over the last few days. Who knew they had such a good attention span!

22 Photographs where time really stood still

These candid photographs have perfectly caught their subjects at very precise moments, whether looking like a different animal, defying the laws of science or simply an accident waiting to happen.

Animals are just the best.

Even if you're not normally an animal fan, you can't help but smile at these cute critters experiencing every day life.

Are The Simpsons psychic?

They predicted Trump would run for president & now it seems The Simpsons not only pre-empted Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's "foreign species invasion" but also the apology they were forced to issue.

Japanese cat loves to ride the subway

Japan is known for its love of all things cat, but this cat thinks he's a human.

WATCH: The #PowerofPuppies

SoulPancake and Puppy Chow teamed up to share the #PowerofPuppies at a preschool, retirement home, and gym to transform an otherwise ordinary day.