Imagine this: 17 live ornamental fish, including seven alligator gars and ten endangered freshwater stingrays, were smuggled into Israel, hidden inside a plastic bag within a suitcase! Yes, you read that right! Customs inspectors at Ben Gurion Airport arrested a passenger from Thailand attempting to bring these fish into the country. These aren’t just any fish – the alligator gar is one of the largest freshwater fish in North America, capable of growing up to one meter, making them unsuitable for home aquariums. But wait, there’s more – ten freshwater stingrays of the species Potamotrygon stingage, also endangered, were found in the same suitcase. Inspector Shadi Halil warns that ornamental fish enthusiasts often naively buy these species to keep at home, but when the fish outgrow their tanks, they release them into natural water bodies, causing ecological havoc. These invasive species can devastate local fish populations and disrupt ecosystems. Does anyone think about this when buying exotic fish? This case is just the tip of the iceberg of smuggling and irresponsible behavior towards nature. If you think this is just another bizarre story, think again! Ecological crime is real and has consequences that are not easily fixed. So, what do you think? Have you ever bought an exotic fish or know someone who has? Share your thoughts – maybe together we can raise awareness about this issue!
The Balkan's #1, unbiased news portal
