New addition to the collection of the State Darwin Museum - smuggled stuffed rare birds detained by Russian customs

The Central Postal Customs donated 6 stuffed birds and 2 stuffed seal heads to the Darwin Museum, which customs officers discovered in 2022 in international mail. Parcels containing goods prohibited for export were destined for private recipients in the United States.

During an X-ray examination of the parcels, the customs inspector noticed objects similar to the outlines of birds. A customs examination showed that the shipments contained stuffed animals of two species of owls and three species of birds of prey. The expert identified the graceful bird as the ibis. Seal heads belong to one of the seal species of the domestic fauna.

All these animals are classified as CITES objects, and the ibex, black vulture, griffon vulture, greater spotted eagle and seals are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Export from the territory of Russia of representatives of these species is allowed only with permission from Rospotrebnadzor, which the sender did not have. The sender was brought to administrative responsibility. By decision of the Central Postal Customs, the confiscated stuffed animals were transferred to the Darwin Museum and replenished its scientific collection. All the gifts were carefully unpacked, treated from pests and accepted for safekeeping by the chief curator of the museum Igor Vyacheslavovich Fadeev.

Smuggling of wild animals and parts of them (derivatives) ranks second in the world in terms of money turnover - 6-9 billion dollars a year. 33,000 rare species are protected by the International Convention CITES and are prohibited from moving across state borders without special permission - not only alive, but also in the form of derivatives and any kind of products. Contraband goods are destroyed or transferred to competent institutions such as zoos, nurseries or museums. The Darwin Museum receives both stuffed animals seized by customs (some of them are presented in the permanent exhibition) and individual parts of animals - derivatives. These are rhino horns, elephant tusks, reptile skins and leather goods (belts, wallets, bags), which are used in temporary exhibitions.