Despite an global ban on international trade in elephant ivory, elephants continue to be slaughtered in Africa and Asia, because the demand for trinkets and jewelry continues to grow, especially in the far east.  Recent research by Esmond and Chrysee Martins reveals that mammoth ivory from Russia is filling that demand, and she sells about 60 tons of mammoth ivory to China every year. Conservationists are alarmed that mammoth ivory is stoking the demand for ivory and this could further escalate the killing of elephants to feed the illegal trade in ivory which is the major threat to the African and Asian survival. But some people say that mammoth ivory from long extinct elephant relatives is “guilt free ivory” and claim that even Michelle Obama wears it! In another WildlifeDirect.org interview, Esmond Martins talks to Paula Kahumbu about what his research found and what he thinks this means for the remaining African and Asian elephants.

Despite an global ban on international trade in elephant ivory, elephants continue to be slaughtered in Africa and Asia, because the demand for trinkets and jewelry continues to grow, especially in the far east.  Recent research by Esmond and Chrysee Martins reveals that mammoth ivory from Russia is filling that demand, and she sells about 60 tons of mammoth ivory to China every year. Conservationists are alarmed that mammoth ivory is stoking the demand for ivory and this could further escalate the killing of elephants to feed the illegal trade in ivory which is the major threat to the African and Asian survival. But some people say that mammoth ivory from long extinct elephant relatives is “guilt free ivory” and claim that even Michelle Obama wears it! In another WildlifeDirect.org interview, Esmond Martins talks to Paula Kahumbu about what his research found and what he thinks this means for the remaining African and Asian elephants.