Federal Case Exposes Massive Illegal Taxidermy Operation Spanning Over 2,500 Rare Bird Eggs & Mounts

In one of the largest bird trafficking cases ever prosecuted, a Georgia man has been fined $900,000 and sentenced to three years of probation after federal authorities uncovered a massive illegal taxidermy collection involving some of the rarest bird species on Earth.

Dr. John Waldrop, 76, of Cataula, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle wildlife and violating the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Waldrop’s sentence includes one of the largest fines ever handed down in a case involving protected wildlife. His associate, Toney Jones of Alabama—who helped receive and conceal shipments—was sentenced to six months of probation.

Between 2016 and 2020, Waldrop illegally imported 1,401 mounted birds and 2,594 eggs from countries including South Africa, Hungary, Iceland, Russia, and the U.K. His collection included:

• Four eagles protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
• 179 birds and 193 egg species protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
• 212 birds and 32 egg species protected under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)

Waldrop used online marketplaces like eBay and Etsy to buy the specimens, often concealing them as “toys” or “clothing” in customs paperwork. When authorities began intercepting his shipments at JFK International Airport, he enlisted Jones to receive the packages and transfer over $525,000 through a separate bank account to hide his trail.

Federal prosecutors called Waldrop’s collection one of the most significant ever seized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Forensics Lab, which had never seen such volume in its 37-year history. Operation Final Flight, led by the USFWS Office of Law Enforcement in New York, uncovered evidence showing Waldrop personally selected birds from photos of recently killed animals, even requesting “fresh” specimens for mounting.

Among the most disturbing finds:

• Three Nordmann’s Greenshank eggs — from a bird with fewer than 1,600 remaining in the wild. No museum in North America has even one.
• An egg from the Eskimo Curlew, a species not seen since 1964 and likely extinct.
• Dozens of mounted raptors, penguins, parrots, owls, and ducks, along with 750+ songbird eggs.

Waldrop forfeited his entire collection, which will now be distributed to scientific institutions like the Smithsonian and Cornell University. While he claimed in court that he saw the birds “as pieces of art,” prosecutors said his actions contributed to international poaching, endangered already fragile species, and obstructed scientists’ ability to study global bird populations.

“This wasn’t just a hobby gone too far,” said USFWS Assistant Director Douglas Ault. “This was an international trafficking ring that put rare and endangered birds at even greater risk. Waldrop’s crimes commercialized the destruction of our shared natural resources.”

According to court documents, Waldrop even offered to fund a poacher’s expedition in Iceland and sought to obtain a live quetzal, one of Central America’s most iconic endangered birds.

Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson emphasized that the case sets a precedent:

“If you think wildlife laws don’t apply to you because you’re wealthy or clever with paperwork, think again. This was a deliberate effort to bypass federal law and exploit protected species for personal enjoyment.”

The investigation received assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

As the dust settles, the message from this case is simple and clear: wildlife trafficking isn’t just an international problem—it’s happening right here at home. And the feds are watching.

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