It’s no giraffing matter: Taxidermist jailed for stuffing endangered animals and posting pictures online

A ROGUE trader who ran an online taxidermy business dealing in endangered species has been jailed after posting pictures online.

A ROGUE trader who ran an online taxidermy business dealing in endangered species has been jailed.

Aaron Halstead sparked a police investigation after posting pictures on social media posing with various stuffed animals.

Photos showed the 24-year-old roaring next to the head of a tiger, riding a giraffe, wearing a leopard skin ladies coat with a beaver skin trim and even driving a car with a stuffed zebra in the back.

Police raided Halstead’s home, which he shares with his mum and dad in Burnley, Lancs, after Dutch officials warned he was selling endangered species online.

Most of the items he traded were legally held, but officers discovered he had three sperm whale teeth, cheetah skulls and a dolphin illegally.

The online businessman also had a snowy owl without proper permits.

Halstead was jailed for 24 weeks after admitting four charges under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations at Burnley Crown Court.

The 24-year-old smiles among six stuffed giraffes at his Burnley home

It emerged the dodgy dealer already had a police caution from 2011 for selling stuffed birds from endangered species.

Wildlife officer for Lancashire Police Nigel Keates said it was a rare bust.

“This was certainly an unusual case and very different from the type of wildlife crime we’re used to dealing with here in Lancashire,” he said.

“He has shown a flagrant disregard for the regulations in place surrounding the buying and selling of endangered species and today he has been sentenced accordingly for flouting these rules.”

The one-man-band trader worked out of the ground floor of his parents’ house, calling himself ‘Halstead Taxidermy’, and posted scores of images of stuffed tigers, bears and orang-utan and elephants feet online.

Mr Keates went on to say there has been a surge in popularity in taxidermy following programs such as Game of Thrones and Harry Potter.

“There is quite rightly a strong public revulsion in the trade of some of these items and it is important those who flout the legislation are brought to justice,” he said.

Halstead pleaded not guilty to purchasing four leopard skins, which the prosecution accepted.

The 24-year-old posted a selfie with a Zebra head.