The Beit Hanina neighborhood in Jerusalem witnessed an unusual incident: officers from the Jerusalem District Police, together with the municipal veterinary service, rescued a Eurasian eagle-owl – the largest nocturnal bird of prey in the world – from a locked, sweltering car. This protected wild animal, whose natural home is the open wilderness, could have died within minutes in the intense heat. Thanks to the officers’ quick action, its life was saved. The entire incident was caught on video and quickly spread across social media, sparking outrage and questions about human responsibility toward wildlife
Rescue Under Extreme Heat
The report reached the police call center after passersby spotted the bird trapped inside the parked vehicle. Officers from the Shafat station in the Kedem district arrived promptly, identified the bird as a Eurasian eagle-owl – a protected species in Israel – and called in Jerusalem District bomb squad experts to open the car without harming the animal. “This is an unacceptable act in which a wild animal, whose place is free in nature, is unlawfully kept in poor conditions, and furthermore – left inside a locked car in the heavy heat… It is not unlikely that as a result, it could have lost its life due to a reckless human act,” police said in an official statement
Thanks to the coordinated response, the owl was rescued apparently in good health and transferred to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. It was taken to the Wildlife Hospital for thorough medical checks, after which experts will decide whether it can be returned to the wild or needs further rehabilitation
The Eurasian Eagle-Owl – A Protected Nighttime Predator
The Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) is considered the largest nocturnal bird of prey in the world, with a wingspan reaching up to two meters. Found across Europe, Asia, and North Africa, it feeds on rodents, medium-sized birds, and reptiles. In Israel, it inhabits mountainous areas and cliffs, including the Jerusalem Hills. As an apex predator, it plays a key role in maintaining ecological balance, and harming or keeping one in captivity is a serious offense under Israeli law
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Cases of eagle-owls being held in captivity are rare but severe, and this incident highlights the urgent need to raise public awareness about protecting wildlife – especially during the scorching summer months, when the risk of heatstroke and dehydration can be deadly even for large and powerful animals
