Pa. Police Search for Owner of Mysteriously Abandoned Rhino Head

Sept. 1, 2021
Aspinwall officers took custody of the stuffed rhinoceros head—estimated to be over 50 years old—after it was discovered on a borough sidewalk by a man out walking his dog.

By Claudia Dimuro

Source pennlive.com

Police in Aspinwall are currently looking for the owner of a taxidermy rhinoceros head.

The head was discovered on a sidewalk on Saturday night, and the identity of the owner remains a mystery.

Pittsburgh Action News 4 reports how a man named Cameron Taylor was taking his dog for what he thought was a casual walk over the weekend when he came upon the head. An officer from the Aspinwall Police Department later responded to the scene, taking the preserved noggin into police custody where it’s been ever since.

Newsweek continues to report that the head is estimated to be over 50 years old. Aspinwall authorities confirmed that they have contacted the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in order to glean more information on the legality behind an individual owning such an item.

And while the idea of someone owning a stuffed rhino head is baffling in it of itself, how the head ended up on the sidewalk is even more of a head-scratcher. According to PBS, the average length of a rhinoceros is between 6.5 and 13 feet, with their weight amounting up to 2,090 pounds. As such, the transportation of even just a rhino’s head—albeit a taxidermy one—could barely be an easy (or discreet) feat.

However, nearby surveillance footage did show a suspect using a dolly to dump the head in the area, although other means of disposing of it—as well as how the suspect received the head and why he wanted to get rid of it—is unknown.

Police stated that they are continuing to look at surrounding security footage in order to gain more information on the matter.

_____

©2021 Advance Local Media LLC.

Visit pennlive.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Sponsored Recommendations

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Officer, create an account today!