The US Has a Cloned Sheep Contraband Problem

The United States has encountered an unusual case involving animal cloning, according to Monique Sosnowski, a wildlife crime and security analyst at Farmingdale State College in New York state. The case involves the cloning of a near-threatened Marco Polo argali sheep species.

Background

Arthur Schubarth was sentenced to six months in prison for trafficking a clone of one of the world’s largest sheep species, known as Montana Mountain King (MMK). Court documents allege that Schubarth trafficked body parts of a near-threatened Marco Polo argali sheep into the US from Kyrgyzstan and contracted with a lab to create a cloned sheep. He later used MMK’s semen to impregnate ewes and sold offspring, each carrying some Marco Polo argali genetics, to people involved in big game hunting.

Regulatory Concerns

The Department of Justice was concerned that if MMK’s offspring were left to roam in the wild, they could dominate and outcompete native species in the US. However, the department had nothing to add when WIRED asked about this concern.

Cloning Regulations

The Schubarth case raises questions about whether regulations on cloning companies should be tightened to ensure they are not involved in cloning endangered species. Cloning is becoming more widespread, with thousands of dogs, cats, and horses having been cloned in the US already.

Hybrid Sheep

A fourth man implicated in the Schubarth case was sentenced to three years’ probation and $25,000 in fines. He has signed a plea agreement requiring him to quarantine any hybrid sheep in his possession. It is alleged that he bought 12 hybrid Marco Polo argali sheep from Schubarth.

Fate of Other Sheep

The fate of the other sheep is less clear. The four men who have been indicted in these interlinked cases all signed plea agreements that require them to quarantine any sheep in their possession containing Marco Polo argali genetics. They must also submit autopsy reports to the USFWS when any of the sheep die.

Future Cases

As cloning technology becomes more widespread and cheaper, it’s likely that wildlife law will have to play catch-up, says Sosnowski. There are a lot of exotic species out there that people will be interested in cloning, she says. “I’m sure this is only going to be the first of many cases.”

Clues from Legal Documents

One legal filing in the case against Schubarth alleges that at least several dozen sheep may have carried MMK’s offspring, each of which may have had several lambs. The same document also alleges that one of MMK’s offspring was transported from Minnesota to Schubarth’s ranch in Montana in May 2019.

Selling Cloned Sheep

It is alleged that Schubarth sold another Marco Polo hybrid sheep to a man who lives in South Dakota, and that he agreed to sell 11 of MMK’s grandchildren for a total of $13,200 and one of MMK’s children, a sheep called Montana Black Magic, for $10,000.

Defendants’ Plea Agreements

The defendants have signed plea agreements that require them to comply with government requirements. One defendant, Michael Ball, euthanized the nine sheep in his possession that had been crossbred with the cloned sheep. Another defendant, Riley Niewenhuis, was sentenced to serve a 12-month term of probation and pay a fine of $20,000.

The Fate of the Hybrid Sheep

At least several dozen sheep may have carried MMK’s offspring, each of which could have had several lambs. One person transported 26 ewes to Schubarth’s ranch in Montana to be inseminated with MMK semen, and a year later, another 48 ewes were transported. Two other people transported 43 sheep to Schubarth’s ranch in July 2020.

MMK’s Offspring

One of MMK’s offspring was transported from Minnesota to Schubarth’s ranch in Montana in May 2019. Schubarth agreed to sell 11 of MMK’s grandchildren for a total of $13,200 and one of MMK’s children, a sheep called Montana Black Magic, for $10,000.

MMK’s Current Status

MMK himself was taken to a Zoological Association of America accredited facility in Oregon but was later flown to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York, where he will be housed for the long term. He is expected to be on exhibition at the zoo in mid-November.

Other Cases Involving Schubarth

Three other men implicated in the Schubarth case were sentenced to three years probation and $25,000 in fines. They have signed plea agreements requiring them to quarantine any hybrid sheep in their possession and to abandon all property rights in the sheep.