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Israel reclassifies crocodiles as captive-bred wildlife for prison security
The decision shifts oversight of the animals from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority to a security body, with the Israel Prison Service among those involved.
Israel has reclassified crocodiles from wild animals to “captive-bred wildlife,” clearing the way for the reptiles to be used for security purposes, including deterring prison escapes, according to Agence France-Presse.
The move was welcomed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who reportedly proposed last December surrounding a prison for Palestinian detainees with crocodiles, in an approach likened to Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention facility.
Channel 13 previously reported that the Israel Nature and Parks Authority opposed Ben Gvir’s proposal when it was first floated last year.
The reclassification transfers oversight from the nature authority to a “security body,” and the Israel Prison Service, which Ben Gvir runs, is one such body.