Police arrests first suspect in the poisoning of Griffon vultures
The vulture population in the Golan Height was reduced by half after eight were killed due to poison.
(photo credit: YORAM SHAPIR)Police arrested a resident of the Bedouin town of Tuba-Zangariyye on Sunday for allegedly poisoning griffon vultures in the Golan Heights.The man allegedly spread poison over the carcass of a cow intending to kill predators, unaware that vultures might consume it and be effected.Eight vultures were killed, a shocking blow to efforts by Israeli nature lovers to ensure the survival of these birds.Vultures maintain steady life-long monogamous relationships and raise their chicks together, making the effect of the poisoning severe.The griffon vulture population in Israel, like in other countries, is hovering near extinction.