A NOTORIOUS Australian fugitive ate the insides of tortoises and stole food from zoo animals during his headline-grabbing seven years on the run, it has emerged.

Malcolm Naden, a murderer and former abattoir worker, famously managed to evade police capture from 2005 until 2012.

8 Malcolm Naden, pictured after he was captured in 2012 having spent seven years on the run Credit: NSW Police

8 The former abattoir worker ate live tortoises and stole zoo food during his time on the run Credit: Channel 9

8 CCTV images captured Naden wandering through bushland during his time at large Credit: NSW Police

8 He lived a wild existence, hunting and foraging food to survive Credit: NSW Police

8 He was caught in 2012 and during court proceedings, admitted murdering two people Credit: NSW Police

8 Naden became one of Australia's most notorious criminals due to the length of time he spent at large Credit: NSW Police

Now a new book has revealed he decapitated a Galapagos tortoise and devoured its insides during time spent hiding in a New South Wales Zoo.

He also stole bananas from elephants, slept in the roof space of a zoo managers' hut and cooked himself meals on coin-fed barbecues.

According to the Daily Mail, his seven years spent on the run are have been detailed in a new book called The Contractor.

The book recounts a security contractor's time spent chasing Naden through the bush after he was contacted to locate a suspected "homeless person" living in Western Plains Zoo in 2005.

Food had been vanishing from staff accommodation, while food wrappers were discovered in odd places and barbecues found still hot at 5am.

At one point, a vet recalled seeing Naden fleeing the tortoise enclosure at the zoo.

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When they reached the site, they discovered he had torn the head off of a tortoise and sucked out its guts, the book says.

Food raids to the elephant house continued for several more days, but with a boosted police presence in the zoo, he slipped away from the area.

Naden was wanted for the killing of his cousin's girlfriend Kristy Scholes, who was found strangled to death in her home.

8 Naden murdered 24-year-old Kirsty Scholes (pictured), who was the girlfriend of his cousin

8 He also killed his cousin Lateesha Nolan (pictured)

He was also a prime suspect in the disappearance of another cousin, Lateesha Nolan. Her remains were found some years later after Naden was captured and assisted police.

Australia’s most wanted man, he spent seven years on the run and was captured by police living in a tiny hut amid dense bushland.

Following his capture he was handed a life sentence for the 2005 murder of 15-year-old Dubbo girl Kristy Scholes as well as a further 21 years for murdering Ms Nolan that same year.

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