Ivory

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Definition of Ivory

From the elephant glossary Section: elephant anatomy

Relevant Literature about Ivory

Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mammals is the same, regardless of the species of origin. The trade in certain teeth and tusks other than elephant is well established and widespread; therefore, "ivory" can correctly be used to describe any mammalian teeth or tusks of commercial interest which are large enough to be carved or scrimshawed. (Wikipedia)

Most ivory importation has been a crime in the U.S. since 1976, and there has been an international ban on ivory trade since 1989. Ivory more than 100 years old can be legally imported and ivory obtained with a proper hunters permit can be legally imported.

Wholesale price of ivory

1990s: $100 per kilogram

2004: $200 per kilogram

2006: to $750 per kilogram

2007: to $850 per kilogram

Source: Sam Wasser

Ivory trade and elephant population numbers

Elephant conservation has sparked heated debate at every CITES Conference of the Parties since 1985. The Asian elephant was listed on Appendix I of CITES in 1973 and the African elephant followed suit in 1989. The debate centers on the issue of the international trade of live elephants and elephant products, principally ivory. Poaching for ivory increased throughout the 1970 sand 1980s as ivory demand grew, stimulated by economic development and increased tourism, particularly in Asia. The ivory trade was widely recognized as the single most important cause of substantial elephant population declines (Clarke & Bertin 1989; Cobb 1989). (Daniel Stiles, The ivory trade and elephant conservation, see below)

Mapping Ivorys origin

Using the isotope results with other climate data and geographical mapping tools, it was possible to characterize elephants from different habitats across the region. This baseline data set was then used to provenance elephant ivory of unknown geographical provenance that was exported from East Africa during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to determine its likely origin.

Cambodia

In Khmer language, Ivory is called "Plok Domray".

Internal relevant links on website www.elephant.se

Ivory mentioned in The Elephant Database

2 articles about countries in the elephant database match the word Ivory.

11 locations holdings in the elephant database match the word Ivory.

Abidjan Zoo, zoo in Abidjan
American Circus, circus in Verona
Assagny National Park, wild in Grand-Lahou
Gorongosa National Park, wild in Beira
Ivory Haven Farm (Chuck Walters), private in Michigan
Jamrach menagerie, dealer in London
Knysna forest, wild in
Mondulkiri province unspecified location, zoo in
Ptolemy II Philadelphus, private in
Tai National Park, wild in
Tanh Linh National park, wild in Tanh Linh District

14 elephants in the elephant database match the word Ivory

LA-M Ajani born 2000-08-04 arrived 2018-05-10 at Sedgwick County Zoo in United States, from Birmingham Zoo, in United States.
EM-M Albert born 1888 arrived 1919-00-00 at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in United States, from Ringling Bros. Circus, in United States.
EM-M Bak Mai born arrived 2016-12-00 at Airavata Elephant Foundation in Cambodia, from Poulong elephant village, in Cambodia.
EM-M Bandula born 1949 arrived 1949-00-00 at Sri Lanka National Zoological Gardens (Dehiwela Zoo) in Sri Lanka, from Anuradhapura forest, in Sri Lanka.
LA-M Hamed born arrived 2020-09-10 at Abidjan Zoo in Ivory Coast, from Assagny National Park, in Ivory Coast.
LA-F Ivory born 1982 arrived 1984-09-05 at Indianapolis Zoo in United States, from International Animal Exchange (Ferndale), in United States.
LA-F Koya born 1997 arrived 2020-05-00 at Marsabit National Reserve in Kenya, from Samburu National Reserve, in Kenya.
LA-F Kubwa born 1976 arrived 1978-03-06 at Indianapolis Zoo in United States, from International Fertilizer and Chemical Company (Fred Zeehandelaar), in United States.
EM-M noname (wild) born arrived at Mondulkiri province unspecified location in Cambodia
EM-M Old John born arrived 1919-00-00 at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in United States, from Ringling Bros. Circus, in United States.
EM-M Rio (Ryo) born arrived 1919-00-00 at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in United States, from Ringling Bros. Circus, in United States.
EM-M Sammy born 1908 arrived 1933-07-10 at Belle Isle Nature Zoo (Safariland, Detroit Zoo) in United States, from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, in United States.
EM-M Vance (Doc) born 1971 arrived 1988-09-21 at Bowmanville Zoo in Canada, from Trunks and Humps (Bill Swain), in United States.
LA-F Zahara born 2006-08-31 arrived 2006-08-31 at Indianapolis Zoo in United States

Reference list Koehl, Dan, (2023). Ivory. Elephant Encyclopedia, available online retrieved 20 September 2021 at https://www.elephant.se/index.php?id=24. (archived at the Wayback machine)

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About this documentThis document was created: 2004-02-01. Latest update: 2022-03-14 10:20:09 included 2416 characters with valid HTML5