Charges stayed for Kootenay couple in cheetah-on-the-loose incident
Earl Pfeifer and Carol Plato were the alleged owners of cheetah that was photographed on a snowy B.C. highway
Why did the African cheetah appear on the B.C. road?
We may never find out.
On Thursday, charges were quietly stayed against Earl Pfeifer and Carol Plato, the couple suspected of owning the adult cheetah that was photographed on Highway 3A in the Kootenays in December of 2015.
The photo went viral and a nearby school was put on lock down as conservation officers launched a search for the fastest land animal on earth, in a snow storm.
It was never found.
Pfeifer and Plato live in the area and own two cheetahs.
The couple obtained the animals in South Africa but were denied by the provincial government when they applied for the permits required to have the exotic species in B.C.
In 2016 Pfeifer and Plato were charged with possessing an alien species without a permit, but yesterday the Attorney General's office said they didn't think there was enough evidence to proceed with charges.
Pfeifer and Plato have never spoken publicly about what happened that snowy December or if the cheetah was ever recovered.
The current status of the animals is unknown.
- Cheetah on the loose photographed on snowy B.C. highway
- Search for mysterious cheetah called off in Kootenay area of B.C.
- Couple charged in relation to cheetah spotted wandering in B.C.
With files from Bob Keating.