Lion cub found tied to tree in Palestinian town near Jerusalem

A six-month-old lion cub was discovered Saturday morning in the yard of a private home in Abu Dis, a Palestinian village on the outskirts of Jerusalem, during an Israeli police operation targeting criminal activity, officials said.

The cub, which was found tied up, is the sixth lion cub found in Israel since the beginning of the year. Authorities believe the cubs were smuggled into the country—likely via drones—from Egypt or Jordan.

Sixth lion cub found in Israel this year during anti-crime operation

(Video: Israel Nature and Parks Authority )

Lion cub found ties to tree in Abu Dis

(Photo: Israel Nature and Parks Authority)

The animal was recovered by a regional wildlife investigator from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA), in coordination with the Civil Administration and Maale Adumim police officers. It was transferred to a secure facility for medical evaluation and ongoing care.

Initial assessments indicate the cub does not appear to have external injuries but is underweight, said Uri Lenial, head of captive wildlife trade at INPA. “After a round of comprehensive tests, we will be able to determine whether the cub suffers from additional health issues,” he added.

INPA emphasized that privately owning protected wildlife such as lions is illegal and constitutes a serious offense, both due to the harm caused to the animals and the danger they pose to humans. The agency urged the public to report any suspected illegal captivity of wild animals to the Israel Police emergency number, 100.

Bibas, Uri, Arnon and Yahalom at the Hai Park in Kiryat Motzkin

(Photo: Moshe Levi/Hai Park)

The five other cubs previously found in separate incidents across the country are currently housed at the Hai Park in Kiryat Motzkin. Four of them were named in memory of victims and heroes of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and the ongoing war in Gaza: Bibas, Uri, Arnon and Yahalom. The fifth cub was named Anda.

The lion cubs were smuggled alongside more than 50 green monkeys and were found during raids in poor, captive conditions. “We must understand what happens to animals that are smuggled—many are in such poor shape that they cannot survive or be returned to the wild,” Lenial said. “These lion cubs were separated from their mothers at a young age, kept in abusive conditions, and sadly will not be able to return to nature.”