By The newspaper
A worrying and flourishing illegal trade, known as the “ice ivory” trade, now casts a shadow of danger over the conservation of endangered elephants, a new report warns.
This advance is due to the remarkable similarities between the tusks of elephants and those of extinct mammoths, which poses an intricate challenge for conservationists, according to a study published in the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy.
Conservationists are raising the alarm about the “ice ivory” trade, which involves the buying and selling of mammoth tusks. These tusks, often called “ice ivory,” are creating an unforeseen danger to the preservation of elephants. This illicit trade thrives in the shadows due to a lack of regulation.
Ivory trade regulations in the UK
In 2018, a UK-wide ban on the sale of ivory came into effect, driven mainly by research led by the University of Portsmouth.
The ban was aimed at the sale of antiques containing ivory. However, the latest study reveals that the sale of mammoth tusks remains unregulated, offering a new avenue for the ivory trade to persist.
The ivory trade has long been subject to international regulation, primarily through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
This multi-governmental agreement was established to safeguard threatened animal and plant species. However, the “ice ivory” trade has found a way to exploit a regulatory gap, as woolly mammoths fall outside CITES jurisdiction.
Although woolly mammoths became extinct more than 10,000 years ago, their historical relevance and subsequent discoveries offer essential information for the protection of today’s elephant populations.
Unearthed due to melting permafrost resulting from climate change, these ancient giants are predominantly found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, with Siberia leading the way.
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