Latest news with #ivory
Gizmodo
24-06-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
How Prehistoric Mammoth Tusks Could Help Bust Modern-Day Ivory Smugglers
Selling elephant ivory—a hard white material from elephant tusks, for which elephants are often killed—is illegal. Selling ivory collected from the remains of extinct Mammoths, however, is—somehow—not. Because the two are hard to tell apart, illegal traders are slipping under the radar by mixing elephant ivory with legally traded mammoth ivory. A new forensic tool, however, might soon put an end to this nefarious trick. Wildlife forensic scientists in China suggest that authorities can differentiate elephant ivory from mammoth ivory by analyzing stable isotopes (forms of an element that don't break down over time). If this approach becomes widely adopted, it could serve as a quick sample screening before the application of more expensive and time-consuming methods. 'Mammoth ivory costs a fraction of the price of elephant ivory, but the two are considered completely different materials by carvers and experts, because mammoth ivory usually lacks the deep, creamy white color of elephant ivory,' Pavel Toropov, a University of Hong Kong researcher and a co-author of the study published today in the journal Frontiers, said in a Frontiers statement. 'One trader compared them to a 'Lamborghini and a Ford.' Mammoth ivory cannot be a real substitute for elephant ivory, but its value may lie in providing a legal cover for elephant ivory.' Currently, the most accurate way to tell the two ivories apart is via molecular analysis (studying molecules) or radiocarbon dating (a technique to date organic material), both of which are expensive and time consuming. Isotope ratios vary depending on factors like environment. Since Ice Age mammoths preserved in high-latitude Siberian permafrost lived in a completely different habitat from today's tropical elephants, the isotope ratios in their tusks should be different. Within this context, Toropov and his team decided to investigate whether analyzing these differences could provide a better method to distinguish between the two types of ivory. The team conducted stable isotope analyses on 44 pieces of elephant ivory and 35 pieces of mammoth ivory, specifically studying the stable isotope ratios of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. While this approach revealed notable overlap for carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotope ratios between the two ivories, the researchers documented very little overlap in the elephant and mammoth isotope ratios for oxygen and none for hydrogen. 'This is because the elements of water drunk by mammoths in high-latitude regions such as Siberia have distinct isotope signatures compared to the elements of the water ingested by elephants in tropical latitudes,' explained first author Maria Santos, also a researcher from the University of Hong Kong. Simply put, analyzing the stable isotope ratios of oxygen and hydrogen in a suspected ivory object is an effective way to determine whether it came from an elephant or a mammoth. While more research is needed before this approach can be used in a court case, 'we hope that the protocol described in our study will be applied to screen large batches of supposedly mammoth ivory objects,' Santos added. 'Samples that have an isotopic signature of elephant ivory can then be tested with more expensive and time-consuming methods, such as radiocarbon dating. This could help combat the illegal ivory trade more effectively and close the potential laundering loophole.' The way I see it, there's an even simpler solution: Make all ivory illegal.
CBS News
05-06-2025
- CBS News
Undercover investigation exposes illegal ivory sales in Pennsylvania
A major investigation is exposing the illegal sale of ivory in Pennsylvania, including in the Pittsburgh area, according to the Humane World for Animals, formerly called the Humane Society of the United States. The agency was in Harrisburg with lawmakers on Monday and said its findings show that it's time to end wildlife trafficking in Pennsylvania. Illicit ivory sales in Pennsylvania Images captured during a Humane World for Animals' undercover investigation show some of the 383 pieces of ivory for sale across Pennsylvania. "The items showed signs of originating from elephants, whales, warthog, hippos, walruses and mammoths, or were ivory of underdetermined origin," said Whitney Teamus, senior director of investigations for Humane World for Animals. The investigators also found a giraffe's taxidermied head, neck and shoulders on sale for $6,000. Of the 63 stores and online retailers investigated, Humane World for Animals said 37 had ivory or other wildlife products for sale, including four stores in Allegheny County and two in Butler County. Teamus said in total, they found jewelry, figurines, letter openers and other trinkets worth $38,000. "Not one of the sellers had or could provide any information or documentation to verify the age or origin of the ivory items. Without such documentation, it is impossible to know whether those items were imported in violation of federal law. Some items identified as ivory were labeled as bone. This is often a misleading sales tactic we and others have witnessed in other investigations to obscure the trade of these items," Teamus said. Investigators said their findings show the ivory trade is thriving in Pennsylvania, adding that something needs to be done to stop it. "Iconic species across the planet continue to face the threat of extinction due to demand for their body parts," said Gabe Wigtil, program director of wildlife trafficking for Humane World for Animals. "If there are no markets left for such products, there is no incentive for poachers to continue to kill animals for their skin, teeth, tusks, bones, or anything else," Wigtil added. Pennsylvania lawmakers move to protect animals Several state representatives are hoping House Bill 994, which prohibits wildlife trafficking in Pennsylvania, will become law. It would ban the sale and purchase of parts from at-risk animals, including elephants, giraffes, hippos, and many more. "House Bill 994 would combat wildlife poaching and trafficking by ensuring that Pennsylvania residents are not supporting the illegal wildlife trade," said state Rep. Leanne Krueger, primary sponsor of HB 994. "We have the opportunity now to make change, hearing the groundbreaking results of your investigation and thinking of all the animals we can save," said state Rep. Melissa Shusterman, co-chair of the Pennsylvania Animal Protection Caucus. "This greatly deserves our attention before it's too late for these animals and they disappear in our lifetime," said state Rep. Tim Briggs, chair of the House Judiciary Committee. The bill passed a House committee on Monday, and the state representatives expect it to be on the House floor soon. The bill includes a long list of at-risk animals and civil penalties on those who sell and buy ivory and other animal products. Rep. Krueger's memo to other lawmakers reads in part, "Specifically, my legislation will prohibit the purchase, sale, offer for sale, or possession with the intent to sell covered at-risk animal parts or products with certain exceptions. My legislation will levy civil penalties for the following: A first violation with a value under $250 for a covered animal part or product will subject to fine not to exceed $5,000. A first violation with a value over $250 for a covered animal part or product will be subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000. A second or subsequent violation with a value under $250 for a covered animal part or product will subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000. A second or subsequent violation with a value over $250 for a covered animal part or product will be subject to a fine not exceeding $20,000."
BBC News
04-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Knives and ivory stolen in 'targeted burglary' of vacant home
Knives, ivory ornaments and a historic telescope have been stolen from a vacant house in Police said the ten ivory items, several knives, a glass paperweight, two vases, and an iron field telescope had been stolen from the Castel home in a "targeted burglary".The force said it had asked local and UK militaria dealers and auction houses whether the items had been presented to them, but the items had not been asked anyone who had seen the items or been offered them for sale to come forward. They said the ivory pieces included two elephants, an owl, a bookmark, a pair of boots and five male stolen were a multi-coloured paperweight, a red glass vase, a blue china vase and the telescope which is thought to originate from World War Two, they added.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Indonesian police uncover online ivory trade via TikTok and Facebook
Indonesian authorities have arrested four people accused of trafficking elephant ivory disguised as smoking pipes and sold on TikTok and Facebook. The suspects were arrested in separate operations in the cities of Sukabumi, West Java and Jakarta, according to Brigadier General Nunung Syaifuddin of the National Police's Directorate of Special Economic Crimes. Two of the suspects were caught conducting a live sales session on TikTok, where they allegedly promoted smoking pipes made from elephant tusk. Officers seized about 300 ivory pipes and eight pieces of elephant tusk, along with mobile phones, bank books and livestreaming equipment. All trade in elephant ivory is banned in Indonesia under the country's wildlife conservation laws, which align with international efforts to protect endangered species. Asian elephants are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with their populations threatened by habitat loss and poaching for ivory. While the physical sale of ivory has been driven underground in many countries, conservation groups have warned traders are increasingly moving online, where enforcement is more difficult. A 2022 report by the wildlife monitoring network TRAFFIC highlighted Indonesia as one of several countries where online ivory trading has been increasing despite regulatory crackdowns. If convicted, the suspects could face prison sentences under Indonesia's conservation laws, which carry penalties of up to five years' imprisonment and substantial fines.
