A green guenon monkey was rescued in Kafr Qasim on Monday after Israeli forces detained a suspect accused of illegally trading and keeping protected wildlife, according to a joint statement from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and police.
The monkey, identified by authorities as No. 64, was found in a cage in the yard of a house and had been kept in poor conditions, the statement said. It was transferred on Tuesday morning to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and will later undergo veterinary evaluation and rehabilitation at the Israeli Monkey Sanctuary.
Suspect detained in Kafr Qasim
According to the statement, the arrest was carried out in Kafr Qasim by Border Police forces from the Judea and Samaria division, acting on intelligence provided by the Central Unit of the Border Police’s Central District. Officers entered the village, located the suspect’s home, and conducted a search that led to the discovery of the animal.
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority summoned the suspect, a Kafr Qasim resident in his 50s, for further questioning, according to the statement.
Authorities warn against private possession of wild animals
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority said private possession of wild animals is prohibited under Israeli law and warned that animals kept in private homes are often held without proper conditions, raising serious animal welfare concerns.
The authority urged the public to report monkeys found in the wild or in private hands by calling its hotline at *3639 or contacting the local municipal veterinary service. It said people should not approach the animal or try to lure it with food, and should remain nearby with visual contact until professional teams arrive.
Monkey sanctuary links rescue to broader smuggling case
Dr. Tamar Fredman, CEO and founder of the Israeli Monkey Sanctuary, said the latest rescue was part of a wider smuggling affair uncovered last year.
“This is the 64th monkey that will arrive at our sanctuary following the smuggling affair exposed last year,” Fredman said. “The monkeys arrive in severe physical and emotional condition, after being held in poor conditions and used as ‘accessories’ in videos online.”
Fredman called on the public not to share such videos and to report similar cases so that authorities can locate trafficked monkeys more quickly.