A 60-year-old man from northern Israel is suspected of being behind a mass poisoning of dozens of animals, in an apparent attempt to keep them away from his avocado orchard.
Police said suspicions against the man, a resident of a community near Nahariya, first arose after a pet dog died nearby. Officers working with inspectors for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) searched the area and found dozens of animal carcasses including dogs, wild boars, coyotes, porcupines and mongooses.
With the carcasses all found around the suspect’s orchard, law enforcement began surveilling the area over several days, whereupon they obtained evidence of the man placing poisoned food and water vessels in the area.
The man was then arrested and taken for questioning on suspicion of harming and abusing animals. He was later released under limitations and is expected to face charges.
Liad Ling, in charge of northern district investigations for the INPA, said: “It’s incredibly lucky that no endangered predatory birds were poisoned, and a real threat of human poisoning was averted, as these could have come into contact with the poisoned water.”
He said farmers “must not take the law into their own hands” and contact the INPA for help against pests.
