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Illegal Wildlife Trafficking: A Case Study
An 80-year-old man from Montana recently entered a guilty plea to two felony wildlife offenses related to a unique venture involving the creation of “massive hybrid sheep” on private ranches for hunting purposes. The elaborate scheme involved the illegal importation of animal parts from central Asia, cloning the sheep, and then breeding them to produce an oversized hybrid species.
Unveiling the Operation
Arthur “Jack” Schubarth, the mastermind behind this operation, owns and manages an “alternative livestock” ranch in Vaughn, Montana, where the plan was set into motion back in 2013. The ranch spans 215 acres and specializes in producing hybrids of mountain sheep, mountain goats, and other large mammals typically sought after for trophy hunting by affluent individuals.
An unnamed associate of Schubarth initiated the illicit operation by smuggling biological tissue from a Marco Polo sheep, the largest sheep breed globally, from Kyrgyzstan into the United States in 2013. These Marco Polo sheep, known for weighing over 300 pounds with horns exceeding 5 feet in width, are not only endangered but also protected by international treaties and U.S. law.
The Creation of Hybrid Sheep
Subsequent to the successful smuggling of sheep parts, the biological material was sent to an undisclosed laboratory where 165 cloned embryos were generated. One particular male sheep, referred to as ‘Montana Mountain King’ (MMK), was born from this process. Following MMK’s birth, Schubarth proceeded to artificially inseminate female sheep with the cloned sheep’s semen, resulting in the creation of hybrid animals.
The end goal of this elaborate plan was to produce a new breed of massive sheep suitable for sports hunting on large ranches. Schubarth also engaged in fraudulent activities by fabricating veterinarian inspection certificates to transport these hybrid sheep across state lines, sometimes even selling semen from MMK to other breeders within the United States.
In 2018, Schubarth transported 15 artificially inseminated sheep to Minnesota and sold 37 straws of MMK’s semen to an individual in Texas. Additionally, he offered to sell an offspring of MMK, known as the ‘Montana Black Magic’, to another Texan party for $10,000.
Legal Consequences and Conclusion
Conversations between Schubarth and another individual hinted at debates over naming this new sheep breed, with the suggestion of ‘Black Argali’ being proposed. Schubarth ultimately pleaded guilty to violating the Lacey Act and conspiring to breach the same act. The Lacey Act prohibits the acquisition, transportation, or sale of wildlife in violation of federal regulations.
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim from the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division expressed concerns over Schubarth’s audacious scheme and its impact on native animal populations. Schubarth collaborated with at least five other individuals in executing this plan, and he now faces a potential five-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for July before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Brian M. Morris for the District of Montana.
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