Pigeons Pants
The pigeons were wrapped in padded envelopes on each leg
An Australian traveller was caught with two live pigeons stuffed down his trousers following a trip to the Middle East.

Customs officials said the 23-year-old was searched after authorities discovered two eggs in a vitamin container in his luggage.

They found the pigeons wrapped in padded envelopes and held to each of the man's legs with a pair of tights.

Officials also seized seeds in his money belt and an undeclared eggplant.

The alleged bird smuggler, who arrived in Melbourne on Sunday on a flight from Dubai, has been questioned.

Australia has very strict quarantine regulations on the importation of wildlife, plants and food to protect health, agriculture and the environment of the isolated island nation.

Charges of wildlife smuggling, which carry a penalty of up to 10 years in jail and a hefty fine, could be brought against the man.

Richard Janeczko, national investigations manager for the Customs Service, said the pigeons were not endangered and that the case - along with the birds, eggs and seeds - had been turned over to the Quarantine Service to assess the health risk associated with bringing the birds into the country.