Father, two sons arrested on suspicion of trapping songbirds in near-invisible nets
Illegal bird hunting, which the INPA says also occurs in other regions of the Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East, threatens migratory bird populations and can cause significant harm.
Three family members - a father and his two sons - were arrested in the West Bank near Halhul and Hebron last week on suspicion of illegally hunting songbirds using nearly invisible nets, according to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA). The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) seized the suspects' vehicle during enforcement activity. Two additional suspects were also arrested this week on related charges.
The arrests resulted from a joint investigation by the Erez Special Investigations Unit of the Northern Border Police and the INPA. The individuals are accused of trafficking thousands of protected birds and selling them to customers nationwide, violating environmental laws. During searches, authorities seized hundreds of frozen black-capped babblers, a protected species.
Illegal bird hunting in the West Bank is common, but it becomes more prevalent during migration periods in the fall, according to the INPA. Thousands of birds are hunted using mist nets - thin, nearly invisible nets stretched between poles. These nets are set up near trees that attract migratory birds, particularly where fruits serve as their food source. The nets do not differentiate between species, leading to the capture of various migratory birds, including warblers and thrushes.
Up to 500 birds can be caught in a single eight to nine-hour shift, with each bird weighing four to five grams and sold for NIS 5. The birds are fried and sold as part of the widespread hunting phenomenon during migration. In addition to their ecological role, songbirds also serve as prey for birds of prey and other predators, contributing to ecosystem health. The INPA urges the public to report any suspected hunting incidents to the INPA hotline rather than confronting suspects.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
