Israel reclassifies Nile crocodiles for potential prison security use
Israel’s environment minister, Idit Silman, issued a decree reclassifying Nile crocodiles from protected wildlife to “specially managed wild animals,” a legal category that permits state agencies to keep the reptiles for security purposes. The change follows a proposal by far‑right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to place crocodiles around the high‑security Ketziot prison in the Negev, where many Palestinian Hamas detainees are held. Ben Gvir promoted the idea on Facebook with the message, “Damn terrorist, thinking of trying to escape? Think again,” accompanied by an AI‑generated image of himself holding a crocodile on a leash. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the ministry’s legal adviser, Neta Drori, warned that the move lacks professional and legal basis and poses risks to public safety and animal welfare. Despite the objections, the decree allows security bodies, including the Israel Prison Service, to keep crocodiles under strict conditions, though implementation remains uncertain.