Monkey after monkey: The monkey sanctuary rehabilitates survivors of the smuggling industry

The Israeli monkey sanctuary is rehabilitating green monkeys smuggled into Israel in a large smuggling wave that began in March 2025. Dr. Tamar Friedman says about 100 monkeys were smuggled, 70 of which reached the sanctuary. The monkeys are smuggled by drones by arms and drug dealers, sold for 20,000-30,000 shekels as a status symbol, and arrive with severe injuries. The sanctuary faces budgetary difficulties.

The Israeli monkey sanctuary near Ben Shemen Forest is currently rehabilitating a wave of green monkeys smuggled into Israel, mainly from the Gaza Strip and the Egyptian border. Dr. Tamar Friedman, the sanctuary's director, says that about a year and a half ago, in March 2025, she began to sense something was happening: the country was flooded with green monkeys, a medium-sized monkey from Africa. According to her, the smuggling is carried out by the same arms and drug dealers, using drones that can carry about 70 kilograms. An adult monkey weighs three kilograms, so it can be crammed into a box. Police estimate that about 100 monkeys were smuggled in the large wave, and 70 have reached the sanctuary so far. The monkeys arrive with severe injuries: ruined teeth, broken pelvis, wounds from binding. One monkey, whose hands were tied, began eating its own hand. Friedman explains that the trade has moved to networks, with dedicated TikTok accounts including abuse videos. A monkey is sold in Israel for 20,000-30,000 shekels and is seen as a status symbol, especially among criminals in Arab society. The sanctuary, operating on a budget of four million shekels a year, also takes in monkeys from the territories, Jordan, and Gaza, and faces budgetary difficulties due to a decline in income from guided tours.