Both Pictures taken from LebanonDebate
A bird was caught in Achkout by a local hunter wearing a GPS transmitter and a leg bracelet engraved with the “Tel Aviv University” logo. The website that posted the story claimed said that the device attached to the eagle, was obviously being used for the purpose of spying on Lebanon by the Mossad, and such birds were spotted in KSA in 2010, Turkey in 2012 and Egypt this year.
I made a quick search and found out that a “spy” eagle was also spotted in Sudan in 2012 and here’s what the Israelis had to say about it:
Commenting on the story, a spokesperson for Israel’s Parks and Nature Authority confirmed that the device was indeed Israeli – but that it was a simple GPS device, which provides location information on the bird. “We have attached these devices to about 100 eagles,” the spokesperson said. “The GPS transmits the bird’s location. The device was made in Germany, and no modifications are made in Israel.” The birds, all of them from several rare species of eagles, are part of a worldwide study that tracks the flight pattern of the birds, in order to develop environments that will help the species to recover, among other goals. [Link]
Similarly, Prince Bandar had the bird released in 2010 after it got caught by a local hunter in a remote part of the Saudi desert, saying it’s a bald eagle and not a spy.
The story began when the bird was caught by a local hunter in a remote part of the Saudi desert. Because it was wearing a GPS transmitter and leg bracelet engraved with the words “Tel Aviv University” the creature immediately became a suspect in an international espionage plot.
One week later, Prince Bandar stepped in to clarify matters and accuse the Saudi media of “irresponsible reporting.”
The prince ordered the release of the bird, which he identified as a bald eagle, and explained there was no question the bird was no spy.
“These systems are fitted to birds and animals, including marine animals. Most countries use these systems, including Saudi Arabia,” Prince Bandar told Saudi media, according to Emirates 24/7. “We have taken delivery of this bird but we will set it free again after we [have] verified its systems…
“Some of the Saudi journalists rushed in, carrying the news of this bird for the sake of getting a scoop without checking the information,” he continued. “I am not defending Israel, but we need to be clear. They should have asked the competent authorities about the bird before publishing such news.” [Link]
Honestly speaking, I don’t think Israel needs vultures and eagles to spy on us. On another hand, I wonder why hunters are shooting down eagles in Achkout? I’ve been told by few friends that a lot of Lebanese hunters shoot down anything that flies whether they are going to eat it or not. If that’s the case, I think this matter is way more serious than investigating with a bird holding a GPS device.
Here’s what Colbert had to say about the “Spy Israeli Birds”:
The Arabs sure know how to make themselves the seem foolish.. at least Israel is trying to study these birds and not shoot them down like the Lebanese
oh yeah, Israel is so good and peaceful and progressive while lebanese and arabs are fools and idiots…
this is what most of stupid LF supporters claim too…
some call it complex of inferiority…
I call it shallow stupidity.
if you dig more you will know that there is indeed something called spying animals:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/10204784/Undercover-animals-a-brief-guide.html
There are indeed trained animals, most notably pigeons serving to deliver messages during WW2. But if this had been the case here, why oh why, would Israel bother to tag the bird with Tel Aviv University?
And the story with the sharks being Mossad agents. Seriously? The Mossad must be so proud to have trained and controlled these brave sharks….in order to destroy Egypt’s tourism. That is money well spent, for sure.
The first time this kind of story came out, it was hilraious. But as more and more stories crop up, you can’t deny it makes the arab world appear a bit behind in terms of science.
sorry! but what is called shallow stupidity is you.
get some education and do some researches about these birds and about the studies being made to protect them and how they track their flights before posting any comment on any website.
“I call it shallow stupidity:…”. You should know; you have a doctorate in it!
Instead of constantly hating on Israel, why not take what is good and apply it in Lebanon. Tel Aviv rivals Beirut for the most progressive/cosmopolitan city in the middle east.
We all already know of the crimes committed by Israelis… but lets not be naive to some of the positive that we can all learn from as well. As a Lebanese American, (other than Beirut) I would feel more comfortable living in Tel-Aviv then Riyadh or Tehran on any given day day to their Sharia laws and intolerance of non Muslims.
“…a lot of Lebanese hunters shoot down anything that flies whether they are going to eat it or not. If that’s the case, I think this matter is way more serious than investigating with a bird holding a GPS device.”
YES. This.
FFS, Lebanon is helpless to protect its own airspace. Can you say “Syria bombings”? If Israel wants to see something its excellent satellites can’t see, they can always send a plane or a drone. Don’t shoot endangered birds!
what i call stupid is shooting down the eagle!!!!
Come on guys for real? Israel doesn’t need eagles to spy on Lebanon, they can fly their planes over Lebanese territory anytime.
I agree, we should actually learn from what they are doing over there; at least people are actually doing research and trying to preserve birds and do something useful, unlike here. While people in Israel are busy doing research, Lebanese are busy fighting for “leaders” that are laughing at the people, and just simply stealing money.
Plus I’m sorry if I don’t understand too much in history, but why do Lebanese have to hate so much Israel, when we were ruled and are still, in one way or another, ruled by Syria? I don’t see people hating on Syria or closing the border…