Animals
National Animal
Upupa epops“I will give you every seed-bearing plant and every tree that has seed in it. They will be yours for food.”
Genesis 1:29
Animals commonly seen in the wild
Marine fauna:
Crabs, jellyfish, dolphins, sea turtles, catfish, carps
Birds:
Hoopoes, yellowhammers, kingfishers, parakeets, barn swallows, warblers, owls, starlings.
Land mammals:
Ibex, camel, deer, jackal, wild boar, gazelle, hare.
Snakes and insects:
Vipers, chameleons, lizards, black adders, mole snakes, dragonflies.
Common sights you will not like
In the city and on the road
Stray cats are commonly seen in the streets around garbage cans. The municipalities pick them up, castrate them and return them to the street.
In theCountryside
Donkeys are still treated as working animals by some Arab minorities and are used as such mostly in small villages in the countryside.
General animal welfare issues
The primary law against animal cruelty was first instated in Israel on 1994 and is named the Animal Protection Law. In 2005, a major amendments and additions were added prohibiting abandonment of any animal.
Enforcing of the law’s are executed with ease when its individual violators. But when the same misbehaviour is done by corporate companies, they will unfortunately get away with it with no much more than a slap on the wrist, hence the abuse continues.
Hunting or poaching:
All hunting is illegal in Israel.
Animal fights:
Animal fights and any sport or competition involving animals are illegal.
We have not included the treatment of animals in the meat/fur/leather industries, zoos or circuses, animal testing as it unfortunately still happens in most countries.
