Silman declares Nile crocodile ‘cultivated wild animal’ to allow Ben-Gvir's 'crocodile prison' plan

Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman has reclassified the Nile crocodile as a “cultivated wild animal,” a move designed to facilitate National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s controversial proposal for a “crocodile prison.” This declaration allows the Israel Prison Service to potentially station crocodiles around prisons holding security prisoners, with a pilot program initially planned for Ketziot Prison.

The decision has drawn significant opposition. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority argues that wild animals like crocodiles should only be held for educational, research, or public information purposes, not for security. Officials reportedly conveyed to Ben-Gvir and Silman, “We need to protect them, not have them protect us. That is not the spirit of the law.” The attempt to reclassify the crocodile aims to bypass existing regulations that restrict the keeping of such animals.

Previously, the “cultivated wild animal” designation was used for commercial purposes, such as raising crocodiles for their skins. However, this practice led to problems, including escapes and risks to human life, prompting former minister Gilad Erdan to end it. Silman's declaration effectively revives a dormant provision in the Wildlife Protection Law but creates a new category for animals kept for security purposes, subject to the minister's approval.

Legal objections have been raised by Neta Drori, the Environmental Protection Ministry’s legal adviser. She stated that insufficient professional and factual evidence supports the plan and noted the absence of any known professional precedent for using crocodiles as a modern security measure at prisons, contrary to claims made by the Prison Service. The move is also seen by some as exceeding a ministerial decision and requiring primary legislation.

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We need to protect them, not have them protect us. That is not the spirit of the law.