50 days in prison for man who kept a monkey chained with an iron chain in his home

The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court sentenced a man to 50 days in actual imprisonment for holding protected wildlife without a permit – a green vervet monkey and a chameleon lizard. The monkey was kept in a cage in the yard, tied with an iron chain, which caused it wounds. Additionally, a fine of 10,000 shekels and suspended sentences were imposed.

The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court this week sentenced a man to 50 days in actual imprisonment for holding protected wildlife without a permit – a common monkey of the green vervet species (Chlorocebus aethiops) and a chameleon lizard (Chamaeleo chamaeleon). The defendant confessed to the facts of the amended indictment as part of a plea deal. According to the indictment, during the summer of 2025, the defendant held a common monkey for at least a month inside a cage in his yard, alongside a chameleon kept in an aquarium. The condition of both animals was poor. The monkey was tied around its waist with a collar attached to a heavy iron chain, and was kept inside a cage restrained by a strap that limited its natural movement. The strap caused wounds on its abdomen. The chameleon was thin and weak. In addition to the actual imprisonment, the court imposed a fine of 10,000 shekels, suspended sentences, and a commitment of 50,000 shekels to refrain for three years from committing the offenses for which he was convicted. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the animals, so they would remain in state care. The Nature and Parks Authority welcomed the verdict. Attorney Shai Peretz, the chief prosecutor at the authority, said the verdict sends an important message: protected wildlife are not pets, and holding them illegally can lead to actual imprisonment. Adva Peretz, an inspector of wildlife holding and trade in captivity, warned of a rise in holding complex wildlife without a permit and in violation of the law, noting the risk of introducing zoonotic diseases and parasites.