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Israel allows crocodile, ostrich hunt
Jewish state enters dubious list of countries where hunting and skinning of crocodiles, ostriches is legalized
Amir Ben-David
Crocodiles and ostriches are among the most widely abused animals in the fashion industry. Crocodile skins are made into watches, belts, boots, handbags and luggage, Ostrich meat is eaten and its feathers are used in fashion, decoration and dust cleaning. And soon many of these products will be made in Israel.
Environmental Protection Minister Gideon Ezra recently reclassified these two species as "nurtured wildlife," meaning they can be traded for various purposes, eaten, skinned and even hunted if encountered in the wild.
Crocodile and ostrich farms have been operating in Israel for almost 20 years now, but only recently discovered they were violating wildlife laws.
The first farms established in Israel were meant to draw in tourists but working farms quickly developed alongside the originals, raiding ostriches and crocodiles for their meat and skins.
In the Golan Heights a large crocodile farm was closed after many of the animals being raised on it froze and died. Ever since then, the trade of crocodiles nearly came to a stop but is now making a comeback and new farms are continuingly popping up.
Ostrich farms fared netter and there are two very large farms in northern Israel. The ostriches are slaughtered in Israel and their meat is exported.
The Parks Protection Authority recently received a request to import red deer for commercial purposes, and it was then that the Ministry of Environmental Protection realized that the entire activity up to this date had been illegal.
In a special meeting called by Ezra, scientists familiar with the issue recommended not defining these animals as “nurtured wildlife” due to ecological concerns, but Dr Yehoshua Shkedy, chief scientist for the Parks Protection Authority, claimed that raising these animals in special farms does not violate international treaties.
Ezra decided against the animals and determined that they will in fact fall under the “nurtured wildlife” category. This means they can be used for commercial purposes of any kind.
Ezra and Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon will now have to sign a special ordinance on the matter, making Israel part of a dubious group of countries that allow trade of any kind in these animals.
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