After the war, we will devote ourselves to reformulating concepts and freedoms again
by : Ahmad safi My friend Wael from Gaza, says, “We are counting the shells one by one. My daughter Lama hugs her cat and waits when the next strike will hit the house. My children, the displaced people we hosted, and the cat are all in the house. Whenever the bombing intensifies, my daughter […]
Inner Wounds Heal: Kids, Animals, and Resilience
Project Proposal Inner Wounds Heal: Kids, Animals, and Resilience Organization Mission: The Palestinian Animal League’s (PAL) mission is to inspirecompassion and transform perceptions, envisioning a society where animal protection isintrinsic, and fostering humane solutions. Rooted in animal compassion and communitycollaboration, we partner with government, education, and grassroots efforts. Leveraginglobbying, advocacy, and a solid foundation, we […]
“Vegetarianism in Islam: The Concept and Context”
By: Ahmed Safi Not much has been said about vegetarianism in Islam, and even the interpretations that accompanied it, or the answers or writings about it, have been plagued by some confusion and misunderstanding of Islamic teachings derived from the Quran and the Prophetic tradition. Moreover, Islam did not explicitly address it in terms of […]
“The Enlightened White: Another Form of Colonialism, Animal Welfare as an Example”
“By Ahmed Safi” “The Past That Hasn’t Truly Ended: A Different Perspective” – The past that hasn’t truly ended, and didn’t just conclude upon its expiry, hasn’t become a real past but has continued, albeit in various forms and appearances, and its methodologies have evolved. Thus, we find ourselves living it and perceiving it with […]
“We will hang your green shoes on the electric poles when you leave.”
by: Ahmad safi “For the occupying army that still remains on our land, I have gained wealth in response to every question directed to me regarding cooperation with Israeli animal welfare organizations and my personal opinion on their work and the possibility of collaborating with them. Advocates for animal welfare around the world have been […]
What suits Paris may not necessarily suit Ramallah.
What suits Paris may not necessarily suit Ramallah. By Ahmed Safi Firstly, I hope to convey my message to you correctly, and I hope that what I will present will be thought-provoking for a civilized discussion, far from any bias or attack. We have become accustomed, over the past centuries, since the emergence of superficial […]
The Palestinian Animal league Welfare organized a workshop today on “The phenomenon of the spread of stray dogs and how to control their reproduction.”
The Palestinian Animal league organized a workshop on “The Proliferation of Stray Dogs and How to Control Their Reproduction” on Saturday at the Palestinian-Korean Center, affiliated with the Municipality of Hebron. This workshop is part of a project aimed at controlling the reproduction of stray dogs in the State of Palestine. Representatives from the municipalities […]
Wildlife in Palestine
In the modern Lower Pliocene era, there were some animal species living in Palestine for many generations, such as swine, hippopotamus, and spotted hyena. Later, other animals came from India, including wolves, deer, and wild horses. Climate changes occurred in the Middle East in recent ages, including the Neolithic period (around seven thousand years ago), which brought new changes to the local animal life composition. There haven’t been any significant changes in the animal life in Palestine since then, even though many species have been eradicated through hunting and deforestation, especially during the Ottoman rule.
The Bible mentions many animals that are no longer present in Palestine today, including lions, Syrian bears, giraffes, oryxes, ostriches, crocodiles, and Arabian oryxes.
Wild Mammals
Despite Palestine’s relatively small size, it hosts a significant diversity of mammals, with around seventy species. This is considered good diversity for its small area.
Most wild animals in Palestine are also known in other parts of the world. These species range from the Palestinian mole rat to the Syrian brown bear and include a variety of herbivores and carnivores, such as the bear. There are also nocturnal animals like the hyena and bat species that live near swamps or springs, such as the wild boar. In addition, there are several bat species, despite being mammals, that fly. The remaining mammals are distributed throughout Palestine according to their region. In general, mammalian species are threatened with extinction due to the lack of large forests and water sources near them. Statistics show that one animal becomes extinct every twenty years in Palestine.
Here is some taxonomic and ecological information about mammals in Palestine:
Order Insectivora
Family Hedgehogs
European Hedgehog, Mountain Hedgehog: Found in forests, gardens, meadows, and prairies. Nocturnal, feeds on both animals and plants. Recorded in Jericho, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Nablus, and most of the northern and central hill regions, as well as Beit Dajan, Lod, and Beit Lid.
Family Molossidae (These species resemble rats or mice in that their fur is hairless)
Egyptian Mastiff Tailed Bat: Typically found in dense, wet environments, it occupies the burrows of other rodents. Recorded in Jerusalem, Carmel, and Haifa.
Family Vespertilionidae
Large Mouse-Tailed Bat: Usually found in desert conditions. This species is carnivorous. Recorded in Tulkarm, Gaza, Beersheba, Jaffa, and Tel Aviv.
Egyptian Fruit Bat: Typically found in forests, it occasionally invades gardens. Recorded in Jericho, Jerusalem, Jordan Valley, Carmel, and northern Beersheba.
Large-Eared Free-Tailed Bat: Recorded in Beisan.
Big-Eared Free-Tailed Bat: Recorded in Jerusalem, Arava, Dead Sea, and southern Ayn Jadida.
Nathusius’ Pipistrelle: Found in most of Palestine. Recorded in Jerusalem, Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, and Beersheba.
Savi’s Pipistrelle: Recorded in Jerusalem, Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, and Tel Aviv.
Mediterranean Free-Tailed Bat: Widespread in the Mediterranean basin. Recorded in various regions of Palestine.
Kuhl’s Pipistrelle: Recorded in Jerusalem, Jenin, Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Ramallah.
Family Rhinolophidae (Horseshoe bats)
Greater Horseshoe Bat: Widespread in Mediterranean regions, found in caves in dark, wet environments. Recorded in all regions of Palestine.
Family Nycteridae (Hog-nosed bats)
Egyptian Nycteris: Recorded in Jericho.
Family Molossidae (Free-tailed bats)
Geoffroy’s Rousette: Recorded in Beisan.
Family Vespertilionidae
Serotine Bat: Recorded in Jerusalem, Arava, Dead Sea, and southern Ayn Jadida.
Family Vespertilionidae (Free-tailed bats)
European Free-Tailed Bat: Found in mountainous and desert regions, as well as in rocky, forested habitats. Recorded in all regions of Palestine.
Family Nycteridae
Trident Bat: Recorded in Jericho.
Family Nycteridae
Egyptian Slit-faced Bat: Recorded in Jericho and Gaza.
Please note that this list provides a snapshot of the diverse mammal species found in Palestine, and it is not an exhaustive list of all species in the region. Additionally, the presence of these species may change over time due to various environmental factors and human activities.
Common Pipistrelle: Recorded near Jerusalem and in the Carmel Mountains and Hebron.
Kuhl’s Pipistrelle: Recorded in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, the Carmel Mountains, Haifa, Tira, Beersheba, Acre, and Tiberias.
Savi’s Pipistrelle: A desert-dwelling species, recorded in the Araba Valley.
Common Noctule: Recorded in Jericho and Jerusalem.
Sopron Pipistrelle: Noted.
Botta’s Serotine: Noted.
Long-eared Bat: Noted.
Grey Long-eared Bat: Recorded in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea area, northern Eilat, the Negev, and Tiberias.
Long-winged Bat: Recorded in the Jordan Valley and Acre.
Order: Rodents
Family: Squirrels
Syrian Hamster: Recorded in Jericho, the Prophet Moses area, between Jerusalem and Jaffa, Sarafand, and northern Beersheba.
Arabian Hare: Recorded in the Dead Sea region, southern Palestine, and near Aqaba.
Siamese Hare: Recorded in Ein Gedi, Tiberias, and Beersheba.
Egyptian Hare: Recorded in the Jordan Valley, the Araba Valley, and Beersheba.
Family: Rats and Mice
Mount Hermon Mouse: Noted.
Conserf Rat: Recorded in Ramallah, the northern Jerusalem Mountains, and near Jaffa.
Lesser Egyptian Gerbil: Recorded in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, Beit Fajjar, Jericho, the Araba Valley, near Sinawd, southern Aqaba, and the Negev.
Small Egyptian Gerbil: Noted.
Asian Tristram’s Jird: Recorded in the southern regions of Palestine.
Prophet’s Jird: A resident species, recorded in northern Palestine, near Jaffa and Ashkelon.
Large Egyptian Jird: Noted.
Palestine Sand Rat: A resident species, recorded in the Dead Sea region, Ein Gedi, the Negev, Sedom, Tiberias Plains, Ein Gedi, Al-Auja, Nevi Musa, Kibbutz Kfar Szold, Beersheba, and Yavneam.
Please note that this information provides details about various wildlife species found in Palestine.
Family: Badger
Palestinian Badger: Recorded in Bethlehem, near Jerusalem, Nablus, Jericho, east of the Dead Sea, Jordan Valley, Gaza, Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Ramla, and Beersheba.
Family: Mice and Rats
Broad-toothed Field Mouse: Typically found in forests and mountainous regions, nocturnal. Recorded in Jerusalem, Beit Fajjar, Carmel Mountains, Jaffa, and Mount Hermon.
Common Field Mouse: Inhabits high-altitude areas up to 1200m. Recorded in the plains of Palestine, northern Palestine, and southern Mount Hermon.
Yellow-necked Field Mouse: Recorded in the Carmel Mountains and Hula Valley.
House Mouse, Black Mouse: Recorded in Jerusalem, Beit Sahour, Jericho, and the coastal plain.
Birkenhout Mouse: Noted.
Brown House Mouse: Recorded in Haifa, Jaffa, and Tel Aviv.
House Mouse: Recorded in Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea area, Jericho, and the Jordan Valley.
Muscules Rat: Recorded in the coastal plain.
Muscules Jentles: Recorded in the Jordan Valley and Negev Desert.
Orientals Jird: Recorded in the Jordan Valley and Negev Desert.
Cairo Spiny Mouse: Recorded in Jerusalem, Beit Sahour, Jericho, Safi Plain, the Dead Sea area, and Tiberias.
Golden Spiny Mouse: Recorded in Jerusalem, Safi Plain, the Dead Sea area, Ein Gedi, Jordan Valley, Aqaba, and Beer Sheba.
Damediatous Homericalis Rat: Recorded in the mountainous areas of the country from Jenin in the north to Bethlehem in the south, and in the Jordan Valley, Ein Gedi, Haifa, and northern Aqaba.
Large Indian Rat, Swamp Rat: Found in warm, wet environments. Recorded in the Dead Sea region and Safi Plain.
Family: Garden Rats
Asian Garden Rat: Lives on mountain slopes and rocky environments, feeds on insects, other arthropods, and lizards. Nocturnal. Recorded in the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, Dan, Upper Galilee, and Negev.
Forest Rat: Nocturnal. Recorded in the hills adjacent to the Mediterranean, Upper Galilee, and Mount Carmel.
Family: Jerboas (Gerbillinae)
Lesser Egyptian Jerboa: Nocturnal. Recorded in the Araba Valley and Negev.
Scoklocktery Jerboa: Nocturnal, lives in dry lands. Recorded in the coastal areas of northern Palestine, Jaffa, and Tel Aviv.
Large Egyptian Jerboa: Recorded in the Negev.
Family: Hyrax
Rock Hyrax: Recorded in Nablus, Hebron, and Jerusalem.
Order: Carnivores
Family: Canids (Canidae)
Golden Jackal: Recorded in the Jordan Valley, Gaza, west of Jerusalem, and Jaffa.
Wolf: Recorded in the area between Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley, near Nablus and Tiberias, Beersheba, and northern Aqaba.
Red Fox: Recorded in mountainous areas between Jerusalem and Nablus, northern Haifa, Carmel, Hebron, Beer Sheba.
Desert Fox: Recorded in the Negev and northern coastal areas.
Family: Mustelids
Sporadic Polecat: Recorded in Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley, and near Jaffa.
Honey Badger: Recorded in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nablus, other mountainous areas, the Dead Sea area, the Negev, and the Upper Galilee.
Badger: Recorded in the hills, coastal regions, and Jordan Valley.
Family: Viverrids (Viverridae)
Egyptian Mongoose: Recorded in the hills around Jerusalem, south of the Dead Sea, Haifa, and Upper Galilee.
Common Genet: Recorded in Jerusalem, Jordan Valley, northern Haifa, Carmel, Hebron, Negev, and Beersheba.
Family: Felids (Felidae)
Wildcat: Recorded in the hills, rocky environments, Jerusalem, Jaffa, Ramla, and Upper Galilee.
Jungle Cat: Recorded in Jericho, the Dead Sea area, and the Jordan Valley.
Civet, Sand Fox: Recorded in the Dead Sea area, close to Bethlehem, Mount Carmel, Haifa, near Aqaba, and Ein Gedi.
Tiger: Extinct in Palestine. Recorded in Jerusalem, south of the Dead Sea, the Araba Valley, and northern Aqaba.
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Pigs (Suidae)
Wild Boar: Recorded in the Dead Sea region, Jordan Valley, Araba Valley, Gaza, and the Golan Heights.
Family: Bovids
Mountain Gazelle: Recorded near Jerusalem, southeast of the Dead Sea, Haifa, Upper Galilee, and Mount Carmel.
Dorcas Gazelle, Egyptian Gazelle: Recorded in hilly regions, Jerusalem, Nablus, and the Negev.
Addax: Extinct.
Mountain Goat: Recorded near Jerusalem, southeast of the Dead Sea, the Jordan Valley, and close to Aqaba.
Slaughtering Animals in its Current Concept: A New Perspective in the Islamic Context
Slaughtering Animals in its Current Concept: A New Perspective in the Islamic Context
Why neuter and spay dogs?
The idea of neutering and spaying cats and dogs is to reduce animal overpopulation in the face of increasing urbanization at the expense of wildlife and the lack of other ways to protect and care for animals after encroaching on their habitats and resources. Neutering, which involves removing the testicles of males, and spaying, which […]