Israel's 'bomb squad pigs'

news.bbc.co.uk ^ | Thursday, 2 October, 2003, 18:11 GMT 19:11 UK | David Chazan

[Destro]

Last Updated: Thursday, 2 October, 2003, 18:11 GMT 19:11 UK

Israel's 'bomb squad pigs'

By David Chazan

BBC, London

In Israel, a new weapon is being tested to try to foil bomb attacks - pigs which sniff out explosives.

While a ban on eating pork is one of the strongest taboos for Muslims and Jews alike, a young Israeli believes he has found a new use for the farmyard animal.

It is the pet project of Geva Zion, a former Israeli army dog trainer.

He believes it may be easier to train pigs than sniffer dogs.

"The pigs work and understand very quickly, maybe half of the time of the dogs.

"Dogs must be trained when they are puppies, with the pigs we don't need it, because they like to eat and they like to dig."

Religious ban

After three years of the Palestinian intifada, security is a thriving business in Israel.

Security checks are a way of life.

But because of religious taboos, Geva Zion knows it is going to be a challenge convincing Israelis to employ sniffer pigs.

"In Israel we say if you don't eat the pigs there's no problem, so this is my hope.

"Maybe it can succeed even in Israel, [but] in Muslim, countries I don't think so."

Given those obstacles, Geva Zion says he hopes to market the pigs' services to countries plagued by leftover mines in Africa and the Balkans.

Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/3159010.stm

Published: 2003/10/02 18:11:24 GMT

[Destro]

Sounds kosher to me!

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[freeangel]

What a great idea! Nothing like using pigs to rout out other pigs.

[Ex-Dem]

Don't know if the pigs will be any good as sniffers, but they might scare off a few ultra-Islamist Jihadis :). Nothing worse than getting pig chunks/blood mixed with your blown up body parts.

[anotherview]

All the goyim in Israel can have flash-roasted pork after they find a bomb.

I'm shocked the animal rights activists aren't all over this one. Where's PETA when you need them? Maybe ALF will free thousands of minks in Israel as protest.

[armymarinemom]

Islamic's have a belief against being buring with parts from a pig do they not? I'm not so sure they would be quick to pull the cord on a bomb vest next to a pig. They wouldn't want the body parts mixed with pig parts.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Don't know if the pigs will be any good as sniffers, but they might scare off a few ultra-Islamist Jihadis :).

You may be onto something. Maybe they could serve as guard-hogs at public places. Religious Jews won't eat 'em, but I dont't think they're otherwise as horrified as Muslims are--as in pig parts keeping them out of Paradise.

[Bon mots]

Hey, what a great idea! I'm rootin' for him!

[Ex-Dem]

Lol, GMTA!

[traumer]

I feel sorry for a pig who 'dies on duty'.....
Anyway, does PETA know this yet ??

:o)

[tet68]

I have to say it.....
Even a blind pig finds a mine once in a while.

[risk]

If this is true, it's just too funny! The pigs could be thought of as both deterrents and protectors.

[Ronin]

Ha!

[tet68]

I feel sorry for a pig who 'dies on duty'.....
Anyway, does PETA know this yet ??

Oooooo, even better, PETA Mine Clearance Porcine Handlers,
with VERY SHORT leashes.( 6" or so)

[DonQ]

The Moslems are goig to be delighted to see these cute little fellas snuffling their way around their cars, homes, and mosques!

[Natural Law]

The next step is for Israel to declare that they will feed the remains of any suicide bombers to the pigs.

[msdrby]

The next step is for Israel to declare that they will feed the remains of any suicide bombers to the pigs.

I love it! It is unclean for them to eat pigs, not for the pigs to eat them. LOL

Solyent Green...

Would a pig eat people anyway?

[Pearls Before Swine]

The next step is for Israel to declare that they will feed the remains of any suicide bombers to the pigs.

Maybe they should start a rumor to that effect, rather than announcing it formally. Rumors can be effective than formally announced policy.

On a related note, I understand that sometimes there are identifiable parts of these suicide bombers, particularly the heads, which are often severed and popped away by the blast, remaining recognizable. Does anyone know what the Israelis do with the bombers' remains? I would be disgusted if they actually handed them back to the Palestinians, where they would get honorary treatment.

[Destro]

Better than NATO killing Jews to pretect the Muslims any day.

[El Gato]

Don't know if the pigs will be any good as sniffers,

They will be. Pigs have historically been used to sniff out truffles and other delicate edible fungi. And you know they have very little order at all. They have very good noses.