In a case that has captured the attention of both legal and scientific communities, Arthur Schubarth, an octogenarian rancher from Montana, was sentenced to six months in federal prison for cloning an endangered species of sheep. Schubarth’s 215-acre Montana game farm, Sun River Enterprises, specialized in raising exotic mountain sheep and goats, primarily for game hunting.
The cloned animal in question is the Mountain Polo argali (ovis ammon polii), a species highly prized by trophy hunters for its significant size and impressive horns. Argali sheep, which can grow to 300 pounds, are predominantly found in the mountainous regions of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, making them almost impossible to acquire legally.
Schubarth was reported to have utilized advanced cloning techniques that no longer require a traditional laboratory setup. Cloning today is a streamlined service, allowing individuals to ship cells to specialized companies for embryo creation, which are then stored or mailed for local implantation into surrogate mothers. This modern take on cloning technology is a far cry from the days of Dolly the Sheep, the first mammal to be cloned from somatic cells in 1996, which required extensive scientific infrastructure and expertise.
Sun River Enterprises sold these sought-after argali sheep to game ranches, where hunters would pay premium prices to track and hunt the animals. The conviction underscores the ongoing ethical and legal challenges in the regulated scientific field of cloning and conservation of endangered species.
For more detailed coverage on this story, visit Ars Technica.