Wildlife reclaims nature reserve, as visitors stay away

Wildlife has reclaimed a rocky nature reserve in southern Israel, as visitors stay away to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Nature reserve manager David Greenbaum says animals used to only come down to feed at dawn, but since the lockdown, that's all changed.

Ein Gedi: In the arid landscape of southern Israel, it's a picnic for some wild animals. As people shy away from public spaces, in fear of spreading or contracting COVID-19, some furry tenants are making the most of it.

The Ein Gedi Nature Reserve usually sees thousands of daily visitors, but with people in lockdown, wildlife has taken back control. Since the Biblical setting is empty of visitors, rock hyraxes, also known as 'rock rabbits', spend all day at the reserve's entrance.

The small creatures are sneaking into areas they've not explored before. And they're being joined by ibexes or wild mountain goats. Nature reserve manager David Greenbaum says ibexes used to only come down to feed at dawn, but since the lockdown, that's all changed.

"Now, they can relax, start the day early, go down at noon," he says. "They know after a week or two in corona (virus) time, they saw that there are no people, they can do whatever they want, their home is only theirs," he added.

Seaweed can now be seen on stones by water sources, something Greenbaum says he hasn't seen for years.

Reserve animals would previously come down to the road to feast on food left by visitors. But now there are no humans, they need to hunt more, says Greenbaum.

The reserve manager says he hopes visitors will return soon, so night animals can return to their previous habits and hunt less.

"Usually they go only by night, but now we can see them more than before of the corona (virus) time and I hope that soon it will be over and they will behave the same (as before)," he says.

The coronavirus lockdown has brought out wildlife in other parts of Israel too. In the northern city of Haifa, the wild bear has been spotted on city streets.

In Israel, over 13,000 people have contracted COVID-19 and more than 180 have died. Its government imposed severe restrictions on movement to try to prevent the spread.

The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

(With inputs from AP)