Bone collector, 49, pleads guilty to illegally selling endangered rhino skulls

A collector who illegally traded endangered animal skulls on eBay has today pleaded guilty to selling the items without the correct documentation.

Michael Tang became the subject of a police investigation after listing a monkey skull for sale on the online market place, under the name ‘Zoskiapare.’

The 49-year-old from Cardiff had more than 50 specimens at his property which included skulls of primates and gorillas, rare turtle shells, a rhino head, a dolphin skull and even a cabinet of human skulls.

The human skulls were thought to have been purchased online from various traders and sellers across the world.

Between August 2014 and August 2018 Tang had managed to sell a large mammoth fossil tooth and an armadillo shell.

Trading the items is not illegal, however an exemption certificate is needed in order to have the right to buy or sell such specimens from animals that are on the endangered list, or that are in immediate threat of extinction.

Pictured above is part of the collection which was being traded by Tang, included skulls from different endangered animals

The 49-year-old had many of the skulls displayed in his property, such as ones above

He was caught after listing a monkey skulls but was also found to have been trying to trade a Rhino skulls (above)

Tang had been in possession of 15 skulls that needed such documentation but only had documentation for one, which was a mummified chimpanzee.

This is while he also failed to secure the correct permits for importing and exporting endangered animals.

At Cardiff Crown Court he today pleaded guilty to 24 offences in relation to the trade of endangered specimens and confirmed selling them without the correct documentation. 

He was ordered to pay £1,200 court costs and is also required to do 120 hours of unpaid work.

One of the walls at Tang’s property in Cardiff showed he was also keeping Armadillo shells

A sloth that had been taxidermied was also in display at the property and was seen in an upright position

Tang was found with a collection of more than 50 dead animals which were displayed like trophies around his home

As well as this he was handed a 12 week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months.  

His plea comes as the Crown Prosecution Service updated its guidelines on Wildlife, Rural and Heritage crime.

These guidelines included surveillance when someone is suspected of committing a crime as well as an update on breaches of conservation of habitat.

Stephen Head of the CPS said Mr Tang hadn’t been content with his collection and had profited from the illegal sale of rare items.

‘The controls in place for trading endangered animal specimens are vital to safeguard animals that are increasingly at risk of being wiped out completely.’

This is while Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wales, Gerallt Evans said crimes such as these are taken incredibly seriously.

‘The impact that these crimes have on our environment and our communities cannot be understated, why is why we’re committed to building cases against offenders and ensure they’re held to account for their actions.’

His strange collection included a bat in a display case which featured a picture of two dogs

This creepy skulls was also found at the property which had two hands around it and a miniture skull