TACKLING the IVORIES: the Status of the US Trade in Elephant and Hippo Ivory
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TACKLING THE IVORIES: The Status of the US Trade in Elephant and Hippo Ivory Douglas F.Williamson A TRAFFIC North America Report TACKLING THE IVORIES: The Status of the US Trade in Elephant and Hippo Ivory By Douglas F.Williamson September 2004 TRAFFIC North America World Wildlife Fund 1250 24th Street NW Washington DC 20037 Visit www.traffic.org for an electronic edition of this report, and for more information about TRAFFIC North America. © 2004 WWF. All rights reserved by World Wildlife Fund, Inc. ISBN 0-89164-174-2 All material appearing in this publication is copyrighted and may be reproduced with permission. Any reproduction, in full or in part, of this publication must credit TRAFFIC North America. The views of the authors expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the TRAFFIC Network, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), or IUCN-The World Conservation Union. The designation of geographical entities in this publication and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of TRAFFIC or its supporting organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The TRAFFIC symbol copyright and Registered Trademark ownership are held by WWF. TRAFFIC is a joint program of WWF and IUCN. Suggested citation: Williamson, D. F. 2004. Tackling the Ivories: The Status of the US Trade in Elephant and Hippo Ivory. TRAFFIC North America. Washington D.C.: World Wildlife Fund. Front cover photos from the top, clockwise, are: pygmy hippopotamus, Hexaprotodon liberienis, © Martin Harvey; forest elephant, Loxodonta africana cyclotis, © Martin Harvey; confiscated ivory and muzzle-loaders on display, © Meg Gawler. Back cover photo, confiscated elephant ivory and rhino horn, © Martin Harvey. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . .1 BACKGROUND: THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR TRADE IN IVORY . .7 CITES . .7 US FEDERAL LAWS . .9 THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT . .9 THE LACEY ACT . .10 THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION ACT . .10 THE CRIMINAL CODE . .10 IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS . .11 Raw Ivory . .11 Antique African Elephant Ivory . .12 Antique Asian Elephant Ivory . .12 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS . .13 US STATE LAWS . .13 METHODS . .15 THE US ELEPHANT IVORY MARKET . .17 CUMULATIVE TRADE . .17 IVORY IMPORTS . .17 Ivory Carvings . .18 Trophies . .20 Tusks . .21 Jewelry . .21 Ivory Pieces and Piano Keys . .22 IVORY EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS . .24 THE DOMESTIC MARKET FOR WORKED IVORY . .25 THE DOMESTIC MARKET FOR RAW IVORY . .29 ILLEGAL TRADE . .30 Carved Ivory . .31 Ivory Jewelry . .32 Trophies and Tusks . .32 Smuggling . .33 SUMMARY . .34 i US COMPLIANCE WITH CITES RESOLUTION CONF. 10.10 (REV. COP12) . .35 THE IMPACT ON ELEPHANT POPULATIONS . .36 THE US HIPPO IVORY MARKET . .39 THE GLOBAL HIPPO TRADE . .39 THE CUMULATIVE US TRADE . .39 US HIPPO IVORY IMPORTS . .40 Countries of Origin . .40 TRADE ROUTES . .41 Carved Hippo Ivory . .41 Hippo Teeth . .42 Hippo Jewelry and Pieces . .43 Hippo Trophies . .43 THE DOMESTIC MARKET . .44 ILLEGAL TRADE . .46 THE IMPACT ON HIPPO POPULATIONS . .47 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS . .49 REFERENCES . .53 ii LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1 ELEPHANT IVORY IMPORTED/EXPORTED/RE-EXPORTED BY THE USA BY SHIPMENT, 1995–2002 . .17 TABLE 2 ELEPHANT IVORY IMPORTED BY THE USA BY PIECE, 1995–2002 (NO. OF ITEMS) . .18 TABLE 3 IMPORTS OF ELEPHANT IVORY INTO THE USA BY SPECIES, 1995–2002 (NO. OF ITEMS) . .18 TABLE 4COUNTRY OF EXPORT FOR SHIPMENTS OF CARVED ELEPHANT IVORY LEGALLY IMPORTED INTO THE USA, 1995–2002 (NO. OF SHIPMENTS) . .19 TABLE 5COUNTRY OF ORIGIN FOR ELEPHANT TROPHIES IMPORTED INTO THE USA BY SHIPMENT, 1995–2002 (NO. OF SHIPMENTS) . .21 TABLE 6COUNTRY OF EXPORT FOR ELEPHANT TUSKS IMPORTED INTO THE USA BY PIECE, 1995–2002 . .22 TABLE 7COUNTRY OF EXPORT FOR ELEPHANT IVORY JEWELRY IMPORTED INTO THE USA BY PIECE, 1995–2002 (NO. OF ITEMS) . .23 TABLE 8DESTINATION COUNTRIES FOR CARVED ELEPHANT IVORY EXPORTED FROM THE USA BY PIECE, 1995–2002 (NO. OF ITEMS) . .24 TABLE 9IVORY FOR SALE ON EBAY,FEBRUARY–MAY 2004 . .26 TABLE 10 ELEPHANT IVORY SEIZED BY ITEM, 1995–2002 . .31 TABLE 11 TOTAL GROSS EXPORTS OF HIPPO TEETH,TUSKS,CARVINGS, AND TROPHIES FROM AFRICAN RANGE STATES, 1995–2002 . .39 TABLE 12 HIPPO IVORY IMPORTED INTO THE USA BY SHIPMENT, 1995–2002 . .40 TABLE 13 HIPPO IVORY IMPORTED INTO THE USA BY UNIT AND YEAR, 1995-2002 . .40 TABLE 14 COUNTRY OF ORIGIN FOR HIPPO IVORY CARVINGS AND TEETH CLEARED FOR ENTRY INTO THE USA BY SHIPMENT, 1995–2002 (NO. OF SHIPMENTS) . .41 TABLE 15 COUNTRY/JURISDICTION OF EXPORT FOR SHIPMENTS OF CARVED HIPPO IVORY IMPORTED INTO THE USA, 1995–2002 (NO. OF SHIPMENTS) . ..