In a case that highlights the ongoing battle against wildlife trafficking, Shlomo Alush, a 33-year-old resident of Bnei Brak, has been indicted for the illegal trade and possession of a highly endangered species, the Galapagos tortoise. According to charges filed by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority in Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, Alush purchased the tortoise for approximately $1,300. The identity of the seller remains a mystery.
Nicknamed "Edmund" in Israel, the tortoise was initially placed in the Biblical Zoo upon its seizure and later transferred to a breeding center in Switzerland. In 2023, the Nature and Parks Authority sought the Hadera Magistrate's Court's approval to forfeit the tortoise, facilitating its relocation to an international wildlife conservation center.
Alush, apprehended at his home with Edmund in a cage, admitted to possessing the tortoise but insisted it was an Aldabra tortoise. Regardless, both species are banned from import, trade and possession in Israel. Concerns were raised about the risk of theft due to the tortoise's significant value, making its continued possession by Alush untenable.
This incident is not Alush's first encounter with wildlife-related offenses. Previously suspected of stealing animals from Israeli zoos, including monkeys and birds, Alush has a history marked by repeated allegations. In 2012, he was identified on security cameras during these thefts. His criminal activities extended to a 2013 charge for stealing a duck from a municipal zoo, which resulted in a lenient sentence of community service after he was caught with the duck in his bag.
Despite these leniencies, Alush's criminal record grew with a 2016 charge for establishing a cannabis cultivation lab, culminating in a 2019 sentence of nine months of community service. His story reflects the challenges faced by conservation efforts in protecting endangered species from illegal trade and exploitation.