Questions remain unanswered about whether a Murrysville doctor’s killing of a lion in Zimbabwe last month was legal in an incident that has gotten international attention.
But the Carnegie Museum of Natural History has determined that donations to the museum of four animals that were hunted and killed by Jan Seski, a gynecological oncologist who is affiliated with Allegheny Health Network, were all “legally obtained” and had the proper documentation, the museum said Thursday.
“Carnegie Museum of Natural History, which has strict standards for its collections, has confirmed that specimens generously donated by Dr. Jan Seski were obtained in manners that adhere to U.S. and international laws and conventions,” the museum said in a statement Thursday morning. “All were legally obtained, and the specimens from Tanzania have the necessary CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) documentation, permits for their export from Tanzania, and USDA Fish and Wildlife permits for their importation to the United States.”
The museum has been reviewing its records to determine whether Dr. Seski’s four donated animals were killed and transported legally since he came under international scrutiny last weekend after he became the second American in recent weeks accused of killing a lion illegally in Zimbabwe. Minnesota dentist Walter James Palmer also has been accused.
In 2002, Dr. Seski donated to the Carnegie two Nile crocodiles and an ostrich he killed in Tanzania. The crocodiles went on display in 2003, and the ostrich in 2004. He had already had them mounted, and they remain on display in the museum's African Wildlife section.
In 2009, Dr. Seski also donated to the museum an American alligator, which went on display in 2010 and remains on display by the education classrooms.
Museum spokeswoman Betsy Momich said the museum will keep the donated animals on display and does not plan to increase security around them, despite the vitriol over Dr. Seski’s actions in Zimbabwe.
“We don’t anticipate that there would be any problem,’’ she said.
Dr. Seski has maintained through his attorney that he had proper documentation for hunting and killing the lion last month in Zimbabwe, though Zimbabwe officials say the landowner who allowed him to hunt on his land did not have the proper documentation.
Dr. Seski’s attorney did not not respond to questions about the donations to the Carnegie.
Sean D. Hamill: shamill@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2579.
First Published: August 6, 2015, 3:37 p.m.
Updated: August 7, 2015, 3:44 a.m.
