What Can I Do With My Ivory? On July 6, 2016, a near-total ban on commercial trade in African elephant ivory went into effect in the United States. If you already own ivory – an heirloom carving thats been passed down in your family, or a vintage musical instrument with ivory components, those pieces are yours.

Is it against the law to have ivory?

Its important to understand that simply possessing ivory you already own is not illegal, nor is passing it on to your heirs. Preexisting items manufactured with ivory such as musical instruments used in orchestras, furniture and items such as firearms containing fewer than 200 grams are exempt.

What happens if you get caught with ivory?

People in California caught selling ivory and rhino horn are now fined up to $50,000 in criminal penalties and $10,000 in civil fines. They also face up to a year of jail time. The ban is working.

What types of ivory are legal?

There is now no legal import of African-elephant ivory into the United States — whether it is raw ivory, worked ivory, an antique, or a brand-new object — for any commercial purpose.

Is poaching for ivory illegal?

Still poached for ivory Despite a ban on the international trade in ivory, African elephants are still being poached in large numbers. The ban on international trade was introduced in 1989 by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) after years of unprecedented poaching.

Can an elephant survive without tusks?

From tusked to tuskless Ordinarily, fewer than four per cent of female elephants are born without tusks. So animals that have tusks and therefore have the genes to grow tusks are removed from the population by poachers. Animals that dont have tusks survive because they dont appeal to the poachers, Long explained.

How can you tell if its ivory?

Though authentic ivory is made from elephant tusks, people imitate with bone or even plastic, which can be weighted to feel like ivory. You can usually tell if the piece is a fake made of bone by observing the tunnels in the bones – authentic ivory will have no striations.

Can I sell antique ivory?

Ivory and horn harvested before 1975 can be traded internationally if theres evidence of its provenance — but that can be as limited as a statutory declaration from the owner. Pre-1975 items can be sold domestically without any legal requirement to prove their age or provenance.

Can ivory be removed without killing the elephant?

The bottom third of each elephant tusk is embedded within the skull of the animal. This part is actually a pulpy cavity that contains nerves, tissue and blood vessels. However, it too is ivory. The only way a tusk can be removed without killing the animal is if the animal sheds the tooth on its own.