Montana rancher aimed to breed “enormous” hybrid sheep for trophy hunting

An 81-year-old Montana man has been sentenced to six months in prison for illegally importing genetic material from endangered sheep species, to breed massive hybrid animals for trophy hunting. Arthur Schubarth’s scheme involved the creation of cloned embryos using genetic material from the world’s largest sheep species, the Marco Polo argali, which is native to Kyrgyzstan.

Illegal imports and hybrid breeding scheme

Schubarth, who operates a ranch in Montana that breeds and sells mountain sheep, mountain goats, and other ungulates for game ranches, illegally brought parts of the Marco Polo argali into the United States. This endangered species can weigh over 300 pounds (135 kilograms) and boasts horns that span more than five feet (1.5 meters).

The US Department of Justice revealed that Schubarth used the illegally imported material to create cloned embryos, which he implanted into ewes on his ranch.

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These embryos resulted in the birth of genetically pure Marco Polo argali sheep, an endangered species protected under international wildlife laws. Schubarth then used semen from these sheep to impregnate various other species in an attempt to create even larger hybrid animals. His ultimate goal was to sell these hybrids to trophy-hunting ranches, where larger animals command higher prices from hunters.

“Schubarth’s criminal conduct is not how Montanans treat our wildlife population”

US Attorney Jesse Laslovich condemned Schubarth’s actions, stating, “Schubarth’s criminal conduct is not how Montanans treat our wildlife population. Indeed, his actions threatened Montana’s native wildlife species for no other reason than he and his co-conspirators wanted to make more money.”

Laslovich also pointed out the severity of the crime, saying, “Schubarth’s greed drove their conspiracy to bring to Montana parts of the largest sheep in the world from Kyrgyzstan. Such actions to create hybrid animals are as unnatural as they are illegal.”

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Legal consequences and penalties

Schubarth pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, a key federal law that prohibits the illegal trafficking of wildlife. He also admitted to one substantive violation of the Lacey Act, which regulates the interstate trade of protected species.

In addition to his prison sentence, Schubarth was ordered to pay a $20,000 fine to the Lacey Act Reward Fund, a $4,000 payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and a $200 special assessment.

Impact on wildlife conservation

The Lacey Act passed in 1900, remains a cornerstone of U.S. efforts to protect endangered species and combat wildlife trafficking. Schubarth’s actions, driven by financial greed, posed a significant threat to the preservation of Montana’s native wildlife and to global conservation efforts aimed at protecting species like the Marco Polo argali from extinction.

While Schubarth’s sentence may seem light to some, wildlife advocates hope it will serve as a deterrent to others looking to exploit endangered species for financial gain.