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Last update - 20:05 25/01/2009
IDF adds antelope to its arsenal in fight against Hezbollah
By Eli Ashkenazi, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Antelope, Hezbollah, Lebanon 

In addition to infantry, armor and intelligence units, the Israel Defense Forces has also deployed eight Eland antelope to further secure Israel's tense northern border against Hezbollah.

The antelope have been stationed in the zone between the security fence and the international border to clear problematic foliage that distorts views of the Lebanese side and within which Hezbollah guerillas could hide.

The animals, each weighing in at over 500 kilograms, are known for their sharp incisors and fondness for eating vegetation. Hailing from eastern Africa, the animals were first brought to Israel more than 30 years ago as part of a project to raise them at local zoos before sending them to Europe.
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Israel's defense establishment has apparently caught onto the beasts' impressive ability to quickly chew through large quantities, as well as the low cost of looking after them and their environmental-friendliness.

Hagai Ilan, of the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority, said the ability of the antelope was already known but it took around a decade until extra antelope were produced in captivity for the idea to come up to bring them to IDF bases to clear the weeds that grow every two years.

"They eat huge quantities of weeds, they are the D9 of weeds," Ilan said, referring to the massive bulldozers the IDF uses to clear enemy territory. "They clean problematic areas, open trails and a view and prevent fires."

This is not the first time that the IDF has augmented its forces with animals. In addition to the army's elite canine unit, Oketz, IDF infantry units have also used llamas to transport supplies into Lebanon.

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    From the bunker
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      1.   Whatever next? 11:53  |  Silvienne 25/01/09
      2.   NEXT WILL BE 12:09  |  Robert 25/01/09
      3.   not sure this should be publicized 12:29  |  jp 25/01/09
      4.   jp, #4: Do you think this will escape attention? 13:14  |  Gray 25/01/09
      5.   #1, it is smart, smart, smart 13:16  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/01/09
      6.   youre so clever Israel 13:18  |  well well done 25/01/09
      7.   Solution to Antelope 17:02  |  Sabra 25/01/09
      8.   #1`s logic 17:18  |  Carlos 25/01/09
      9.   Antelopes would probably give Hebollah a better fight 18:23  |  gearoid 25/01/09
      10.   Gray, you are wrong! :) 18:24  |  PETA 25/01/09
      11.   If Hizbullah target the antelope, it`s still an act of war 19:03  |  Raymond in DC 25/01/09
      12.   What is worse, world opinion or PETA 20:22  |  Avrum 25/01/09
      13.   I don`t think so Avrum 20:28  |  Michael 25/01/09
      14.   Wow. This is sad. 20:33  |  Allan 25/01/09
      15.   It`s this or napalm. 20:40  |  Indra 25/01/09
      16.   wonderful , useful stargies. It takes animals to hunt animals . 21:19  |  john 25/01/09
      17.   Zionist Antelopes 21:23  |  Danite 25/01/09
      18.   What next ? 22:38  |  David 25/01/09
      19.   You are the sad one Alan 22:55  |  ChanahS 25/01/09
      20.   promoting growth 23:04  |  ashamed 25/01/09
      21.   # 10 23:57  |  The Teacher/Instruct 25/01/09
      22.   Where is the scam 00:54  |  ChanahS 26/01/09
      23.   Maybe they will do a better job 00:56  |  Jason Stein 26/01/09
      24.   They are also tasty when served in a Tahini sauce 01:18  |  PB 26/01/09
      25.   Use bats 01:20  |  abuya 26/01/09
      26.   Biblical prophecy 02:45  |  hank 26/01/09
      27.   Have The UN complained Yet 07:04  |  Michael 26/01/09
      28.   Cipora... 00:28  |  Silvienne 27/01/09
      29.   Silvienne the `strategist` 00:15  |  Zvi 30/01/09
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