Fined $10,000 after 700 frozen, taxidermied animals found on Victorian property
Court imposes $10,000 fine
Glenn Richard Rollo, 74, was fined $10,000 on Tuesday after pleading guilty to 13 charges. The offences included possessing and selling protected or threatened wildlife, and failing to treat a sick animal.
Animals found at home and shop
The regulator searched Rollo’s home and store in April last year under warrants issued as part of a broader effort to combat illegal wildlife trading. A video showed a room lined with shelves holding birds, foxes, possums and other animals, all dead and silent.
Alongside the dead specimens, officials found 15 live reptiles in enclosures. They included North American red-eared slider turtles and corn snakes; the regulator said six were not being kept to required animal welfare standards.
Wildlife rules in Victoria
Cal Heppell, the conservation regulator’s director of regulatory operations, said the case showed why Victoria has strong wildlife and animal welfare protections. “Anyone who keeps, trades or possesses wildlife must comply with the law,” he said.
Key points
- Rollo was fined $10,000 after pleading guilty to 13 charges.
- Authorities found hundreds of dead animals and 15 live reptiles at his home and shop.
- Six reptiles were not being kept to required animal welfare standards.
- Victoria requires a licence to trade dead wildlife.