A University of Canberra student has pleaded guilty to illegally importing and possessing specimens of exotic animals that are protected by law.
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Among the specimens Brent Philip Counsell, 28, imported into Australia via Queensland were a taxidermy buzzard and the skulls of hornbills, owls and a water monitor lizard, court documents say.
Counsell, who studies a bachelor degree in heritage, museums and conservation, has also been charged with possessing the illegally imported skulls of a brown bear, a gibbon, two owls, four Asian wild cats, a flying fox and six non-human primates.
The Jindalee, Queensland man also had in his possession the teeth of a bear, a hippopotamus tooth, and the claw of a medium-large cat species.
Most of the possession offences relate to an address in Deakin.
The offences span between 2014 and 2016.
No more details of the crimes were available.
In the ACT Magistrates Court earlier this month, Counsell entered pleas of guilty to 14 charges, including 10 counts of illegal possession of CITES specimens being reckless as to the fact they were CITES specimens, and four counts of illegal importation of such a specimen.
CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
The international agreement, to which Australia is a party, aims to regulate the international trade in wild animals and plants to ensure it does not threaten their survival.
Australian environmental law makes it illegal to import specimens listed under the agreement without a permit.
It is also illegal to possess specimens that were illegally imported.
There are strict exceptions to the rule.
For illegally importing a CITES specimen under Australian environment law the maximum penalty is 10 years' jail or a fine of $210,000 or both.
For possession of an illegally imported specimen, the maximum penalty is five years' jail or $210,000 or both.
The case will return to court next year for sentence.
