Monkey and big cat skulls seized from auction

Several animal skulls have been seized by police after going up for auction online.

Items at Beccles Auctions in Suffolk were withdrawn, including monkey, canine, turtle, baboon and big cat skulls.

Officers said they attended the auction house "pre-sale" and removed various exotic animal skulls that were advertised online.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) places regulations on what can be sold.

More than 40,900 species – including roughly 6,610 species of animals and 34,310 species of plants – are protected by CITES against over-exploitation through international trade.

They include primates, cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), sea turtles, parrots, corals, cacti and orchids.

Many of the items at the auction had received bids before the listings were withdrawn.

As part of the same auction, sales of other skulls appeared to go through, including goat, horse, bird and rodent.

An antique human skull - advertised as having been used by surgeons for training purposes - was also on sale.

Suffolk Police said it believed the items were likely to be antique but added: "The auctioneers are assisting police with their inquiries while awaiting formal assessment of the items."

The BBC contacted Beccles Auctions for comment.

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