Horned Skulls, Taxidermied Birds Seized By Customs In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — Federal authorities in Philadelphia seized two shipments full of taxidermied birds and horned mammal skulls recently.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized the shipments from the United Kingdom on May 23 and June 13, respectively.

The first shipment consisted of an arrangement of six colorful taxidermied birds perched on a branch.

The birds were provisionally identified as two Regent Powerbirds, two Cotinga, one Blue-Bellied Roller, and one Oriole.

The arrangement was destined to an address in Onondaga County, New York.

The second shipment consisted of 20 horned mammal skulls.

The skulls were destined to an address in Tampa, Florida.

CBP officers detained both shipments and consulted with inspectors from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who advised CBP that the wildlife products violated U.S. wildlife import laws.

More specifically, the taxidermied birds arrangement violated the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as it is unlawful to kill, sell, possess, import, export or otherwise trade in listed species of migratory bird without prior government authorization.

The stuffed birds required migratory bird import permits from the USFWS and from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services.

The horned skulls violated provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and the Lacey Act.

CBP officers seized the taxidermied birds on May 30 and the horned skulls on June 20, and turned both shipments over to USFWS investigations.

The USFWS investigation continues.

"American consumers should think twice before purchasing products either in whole or manufactured from wildlife because they may violate U.S. and international laws, but more importantly, they could be contributing to the end of an entire species of wildlife," said Rene Ortega, CBP’s Acting Area Port Director in Philadelphia. "Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists will continue to work side-by-side with our U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partners to intercept this illicit trade and to help put a dent into the unnecessary and illegal slaughter of endangered animal species for profit."