Saudi Arabia 'detains' Israeli vulture for spying

[Tank]

Saudi Arabia 'detains' Israeli vulture for spying

Saudi Arabian officials have "detained" a vulture on accusations of being a spy for Israel, media reports say.

The griffon vulture was carrying a GPS transmitter bearing the name of Tel Aviv University, prompting rumours it was part of a Zionist plot.

Israeli wildlife officials dismissed the claims as ludicrous and expressed concern about the bird's fate.

Last month, Egyptian officials implied the Israeli spy agency Mossad was to blame for shark attacks off its coast.

The vulture, which can have a wing span of up to 265cm (8ft 8in), was caught after it landed in the desert city of Hyaal a few days ago.

When locals discovered the GPS transmitter, they suspected the worst and handed it over to the security forces, said Israel's Ma'ariv newspaper.

Conspiracy theories quickly began circulating in Saudi newspapers and on websites that the bird was involved in espionage...

 

[Dretlin]

That was also my reaction.

[Velma]

This is one of those facepalm stories that makes you wonder what's in the water over there.  

[OldGit]

Just wait till the miniature warhead goes off.  

[The Magic Pudding]

I wonder what other wildlife has been drafted into Israel's military.
Termites would be good.
Dolphins have already been done.
They have problems with tunneling terrorrists, attack wombats would counter this threat nicely.
Probably better to use innocent looking critters vultures look pretty shifty, maybe they could breed a desert albatross.

[Asmodean]

I wonder what other wildlife has been drafted into Israel's military.
Termites would be good.
Dolphins have already been done.
They have problems with tunneling terrorrists, attack wombats would counter this threat nicely.
Probably better to use innocent looking critters vultures look pretty shifty, maybe they could breed a desert albatross.

That vulture was SO spying too!  

[Stevil]

It honestly sounds like the media simply blowing something out of proportion to make an article that people might be interested in reading.

[The Magic Pudding]

That vulture was SO spying too!  

I wonder if it has confessed yet.
If they used cockatoos they could teach them to say "I know NOTHING!"

[Tank]

It honestly sounds like the media simply blowing something out of proportion to make an article that people might be interested in reading.

The result of a desperate reporter on a slow news day maybe?

[CelineQ]

How awful to capture a bird and suspect it was literally spying for another country. The only thing that the Arab government should have done is to take the transmitter attached to the vulture and just let it go. I think that's the best solution they could do in the fist ten minutes they have captured the bird. Anyway, thanks for the report.Very interesting indeed!