No creature left behind: Company petting zoo

In addition to hanging out at the pub or around the pool table, a few logistics division employees found time for additional cultural activities. One of the more original was a petting zoo. Heaven forfend this should be some modest little petting zoo: It is a real zoo with five large cages, set up by company employees at the Gan Sorek secondary power station, near Rishon Letzion.

About four years ago, workers built the petting zoo in memorial for a deceased coworker, with management approval. At first there was just one cage, but eventually four more were built at an IEC workshop for the Southern District and installed at Gan Sorek by company employees.

The cages now house more than 100 birds, including rare parrots, peacocks, ducks and a variety of fowl. IEC allocated three workers to care for the animals. The three come every day, feed the birds and clean the cages.

Checking with the regional planning board revealed IEC never asked for building permits for the cages, which essentially constitute illegal construction at a company facility. The company also never reported the petting zoo and its inhabitants to regional veterinary services.