U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized several taxidermy mounts of wild animals and other items including a bear skull and impala horns had been scheduled for illegal export from the Los Angeles area, the agency reported Tuesday.
None of the items had export permits, and four of the seized objects lacked required permits for trade in specimens obtained from endangered species. Customs officers seized the animal objects in the area of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
The specimens taken into custody include full mounts of a baboon, a lynx and a bobcat. Other objects taken into custody: head mounts of a zebra, a wildebeest, African antelope, African gazelle and three deer; two smallmouth bass mounts; deer antlers; a pair of impala horns and a pair of kudu horns.
A kudu is an antelope species native to East African countries such Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The animals are frequently hunted for their large horns and have a conservation status of near threatened, according to the African Wildlife Foundation.
The announcement did not name the exporter or destination. The items will be on display for local media on Wednesday.