<p><br /> An Israeli avian specialist has called for the release of a vulture that was reportedly detained in Saudi Arabia for being an Israeli spy.<br /> </p><p><br /> Ohad Hatzofe, an Avian Ecologist from the Division of Science and Conservation at Israel's Nature and Parks Authority, said that the bird was probably "part of a movement in migration of birds" and not an Israeli-born vulture.<br /> </p><p><br /> Saudi Arabian officials "detained" the vulture after reportedly alleging it was spying for Israel.<br /> </p><p><br /> The bird was reported to have been found in a rural area of the country wearing a GPS logger and a leg bracelet bearing the words "Tel Aviv University", according to the reports, which surfaced first in the Israeli daily Ma'ariv.<br /> </p><p><br /> The accusations went viral, with hundreds of posts on Arabic-language websites and forums claiming that the "Zionists" were training birds for espionage. The Israeli foreign ministry dismissed the allegations<br /> </p><p><br /> Mr Hatzofe said the vulture could be "a Turkish bird, it might be a Jordanian bird or even a Saudi Arabian bird".<br /> </p><p><br /> He said the GPS logger was attached to the bird as part of a PHD study at Tel Aviv University.<br /> </p><p><br /> "Hopefully they will release this bird and probably the awareness will prevent other cases like this," he added.<br /> </p>
