Pussy stuffer pleads guilty

ROGUE Darwin taxidermist Keerthi Raja Eswaran pleaded guilty on Tuesday to more than 350 poaching and guns charges following what prosecutors describe as Australia’s biggest ever wildlife seizure

ROGUE Darwin taxidermist Keerthi Raja Eswaran pleaded guilty on Tuesday to more than 350 poaching and guns charges following what prosecutors describe as Australia’s biggest ever wildlife seizure.

Eswaran, 32, came to the attention of the authorities in December after he was pulled over on his way home from a hunting trip in Central Australia, where he admitted to illegally shooting birds, camels and donkeys.

Prosecutor Ian Rowbottam said the raid on Eswaran’s Howard Springs home uncovered more than 1000 animal relics, from full taxidermied animals to unidentified body parts.

Keerthi Raja Eswaran leaving Darwin local court on Tuesday morning.

“Nothing compares to this in number ... and in my submission nothing compares to this in terms of the taking of protected species in the NT,” he said.

Peter Maley, for Eswaran, said his client simply loved animals.

“It might sound like an oxymoron, but he describes himself as a nature lover,” Mr Maley said.

He said the raid on his Eswarant’s home had been a “wake up call” and he now planned to stick to processing crocodile skulls for local farms and stuffing cane toads to sell to tourists.

“It wasn’t a covert operation, there were full and detailed records,” he said.

“He is (now) looking at stuffing cane toads since they are, of course, a marketable commodity at the Mindil Beach Markets.”

Mr Maley said Eswaran’s business also included stuffing beloved family pets.

“He’s done dogs, cats, guinea pigs,” Mr Maley said.

“(His clientele includes) local people wanting their pets placed into suspended animation.”

Judge Dick Wallace said he doubted Eswaran’s story that the majority of the animals found were already dead.

“When’s the last time you saw a (dead) plover on the ground?” he said.

Mr Rowbottan said Eswaran, who moved to Australia from India in 2008, should be sent to jail for his crimes.

The court heard Eswaran has been stripped of his guns, including the .308 Winchester used on the December hunting trip.

Mr Wallace adjourned the matter and said he was sorry to leave Eswaran “in suspense” until his sentencing hearing on March 24.