Israeli vulture seen flying around the border thought to be a spy arrested

15:05 - 28 January 2016

A vulture that flew across the border between Israel and Lebanon was captured on suspicion of being a spy.

A vulture that flew across the border between Israel and Lebanon was captured on suspicion of being a spy. UPI news reported.

The vulture was arrested after a tracking device from Tel Aviv University was found on it, raising the suspicions of residents of Lebanese town Bint Jbail who captured the bird.

Bird ecologist Ohad Hatzofe told CNN that "They were holding the bird in their hands."

"It would not be the first time residents of south Lebanon have found birds that serve Israel for research purposes," Haaretz reported.

"After examining the bird to make sure it was not carrying listening or spy equipment we returned it to nature."

However, Israeli's have claimed that the bird had been allowed to fly freely in an attempt to increase the dwindling vulture population in Israel but residents in Lebanon arrested the bird to make sure there was no foul play considering the history between the two nations.

Authorities in Israel have been unable to track the vulture since its capture despite the bird's release.