"Israel's nature and parks authority said the proposal was not possible because wild animals may only be held for educational and research purposes.

"We need to protect them, not have them protect us. That is not the spirit of the law," officials said.

But by classifying the Nile crocodile as a "tended wild animal", the reptiles will be allowed to be kept on prison grounds, subject to animal welfare requirements."

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The cruelty is indeed the point.