Oilfield company in Major, Sask., fined for illegal importing of stuffed endangered species
By Medicine Hat News on June 14, 2024.
@MedicineHatNews A Saskatchewan oilfield company based north of Oyen has been fined for improperly importing a stuffed hippopotamus, giraffe and other species that are subject to international rules to protect endangered or threatened species. An Alberta numbered company based in Major, Sask., that owns Osy Rentals, pleaded guilty in Saskatoon on June 11 to knowingly importing the taxidermied specimens without proper documentation from a company in Texas in a large shipment of mounts. They were fined $60,000 and the property was forfeited. The Canadian Environment and Climate Change Ministry outlined the charges and plea in a press release Thursday, stating the company violated the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act. That Canadian legislation enforces a treaty signed by Canada meant to limit trade in threatened exotic animals. An export permit for the original country of origin is required in an effort to reduce poaching. In May 2023, the Canada Border Services Agency flagged the load which also included a mountain lion on undocumented origin. The subsequent investigation uncovered several shipments of black bear, baboons and numerous animal carcasses listed under other legislation. Those included several kinds of African gazelle, boar, wildebeest, kangaroo, bison, water buffalo and red stag deer. 11-10
