Sask. company fined $60K for illegally importing taxidermy mounts including baboons, giraffe, hippo
A Saskatchewan company has been fined $60,000 for illegally importing and possessing taxidermized animals that are considered protected wildlife, such as baboons, a giraffe and hippo.
Known as OSY Rentals, the numbered Alberta company based in Major, Sask., approximately 200 kilometres west of Saskatoon, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two offences under a Wild Animal and Plant Protection Regulations act, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
The charges stem from a shipment that was on its way to Major, Sask. from Texas before being intercepted by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in Manitoba in May 2023, ECCC said.
During the interception, CBSA officers discovered taxidermized animals including a hippopotamus, giraffe and mountain lion.
Following further investigation, more than a dozen other taxidermy mounts were seized including kangaroos, baboons and at least one black bear, ECCC said.
According to investigators, the company did not have the required permits to import the taxidermized animals into Canada.
“These species are listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This means an export permit from the country of origin is required under WAPPRIITA for import into Canada. Since the business did not have the required permits, enforcement officers detained the shipment,” ECCC said in a news release.
The company also posts videos on YouTube in an online web series titled “Oh Sh!t yeah”.
One video posted to YouTube by the company, which has now been deleted, also showed taxidermy mounts being unboxed and unloaded from a trailer.
ECCC said all of the taxidermy items were forfeited to the Crown, with the fine being directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6934695.1718908201!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Canadian acting legend Donald Sutherland dies at 88, son Kiefer says
Donald Sutherland, the New Brunswick-born acting legend with the distinct baritone voice and prolific stage and screen career that inspired sons Kiefer and Rossif to pursue the craft, has died.
Islamic holiday celebration in Montreal park draws ire from secularists
Images shared on social media of Muslims praying together in a Montreal park have sparked controversy in the province. Members of the city's Muslim community gathered earlier this week to celebrate Eid al-Adha, a holiday to mark the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
Former Ont. fire captain pleads guilty in wife's murder case
A former fire captain and father of two accused of killing his wife pleaded guilty on Thursday to second-degree murder.
Northern Ont. neighbourhood evacuated after live explosive devices from the Second World War found
There were some tense moments in northern Ontario on Wednesday after several Second World War-era explosive devices were found earlier this week.
Vitamix recalls almost 570,000 blender parts
Parts of a pricey blender that can cost up to US$990 can cause deep cuts, Vitamix announced in an expanded recall Thursday — but don’t expect a refund.
Skyrocketing rent: Some Canadians saying goodbye to half their paycheque
A significant number of Canadian renters are spending more than half their paycheque putting a roof over their head, according to a new Royal LePage report.
'Supreme excellence': Trudeau, Hollywood stars honour famed Canadian actor Donald Sutherland
Family, Hollywood peers and other famous fans paid tribute to Donald Sutherland Thursday afternoon following news of his death, lauding the Canadian actor as a screen legend and a brilliant artist.
OPINION Before he made it on stage or in film, Donald Sutherland got his start in local radio
Donald Sutherland, who died at the age of 88, will be remembered for his prodigious acting talent. But as film critic Richard Crouse notes, a lesser known yet inspiring part of Sutherland's career is the time he spent at a local radio station in Nova Scotia.
New Canadian citizenship rules for those born abroad could be delayed until December
An unknown number of young people born abroad to Canadian parents could wait until at least December to be eligible for citizenship.