I get the importation of body parts of endangered animals being illegal. If it's just a sentence for that then I get it. But then why is it written that he was jailed for cloning the sheep.
> The sheep, native to the mountains of the Pamir region of Central Asia, are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).
> They are prohibited in Montana to protect native sheep from disease - as well as to prevent the creation of hybrids.
It sounds like he broke two laws - one about importation of animal parts, and one for having a living animal that's prohibited in Montana.
> But then why is it written that he was jailed for cloning the sheep.
Because it's a catchy headline.
> The Lacey Act prohibits interstate trade in wildlife that has been taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of federal or state law. The Lacey Act also prohibits the interstate sale of wildlife that has been falsely labeled. The Act is one of the most powerful tools the United States has to combat wildlife trafficking and prevent ecological invasion by injurious wildlife."
Laws aside, I think the largest potential harm is introducing a potentially invasive species that could harm local ecosystem.