Three people stole six rare birds and 20 lorises from the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo on early Thursday morning, police said.
Lorises are small primates from the Lorisidae family, found in the tropical forests of Central Africa, South and Southeast Asia. They are known for their large eyes, which help them see in the dark, as loris are nocturnal. These animals move slowly and cautiously, clinging to branches with their strong paws.
Lorises are divided into several species, including thin and thick lorikeets. These lemurs have thick, soft fur, usually grey or brown in colour, and a short or absent tail.
Some species of thick lorises have poisonous glands, making them one of the few poisonous mammals. Unfortunately, many species of lorises are endangered due to the destruction of their natural habitat and illegal trade.
Zoo Director Sigalit Hertz said she believed the three were “animal traffickers who knew exactly what they were stealing.”
The zoo is in contact with Israeli police and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
Herz added that the zoo still hopes that the birds can be found quickly and returned safely to the zoo.
Animal trafficking has been on the rise recently, with criminals mainly targeting rare species that fetch high prices on the black market.
The police, together with inspectors from the Authority, have carried out successful raids in recent weeks. A black lemur, parrots, Egyptian chameleons and a stuffed Israeli gazelle were found during a raid on a residential building in Netanya on Tuesday.
