Israeli police and Agriculture Ministry inspectors arrested a man illegally breeding piranhas in his Petah Tikva home.
According to a ministry statement, the man, a suspected drug dealer, was under police surveillance. A raid of his home discovered a tank with three adult piranhas which are banned in Israel.
The piranha is an omnivorous freshwater fish indigenous to South America. The species is known for their sharp teeth and voracious appetite for meat; and are considered dangerous marine predators.
Israel Nature and National Parks Service were called tot the scene and took custody of the fish, turning them over the Agriculture Ministry.
Piranhas are banned in Israel not only because of the danger they pose to humans, but also because they breed very quickly and can potentially have a devastating effect on Israel’s fish population, as well as the marine ecosystem.
Hagai Neuberger, head of the Agriculture Ministry’s , Fishing Division’s inspection unit, said that “Other than the obvious danger to people, introducing new species to Israel’s waters will have a significantly harmful effect on its eco-balance and therefore the environment.”
Yedioth Internet