Mammoth ivory has been prized and traded for centuries. It is legal and lucrative. A well-preserved pair of mammoth tusks, mounted and polished, can fetch tens of thousands of pounds at auction in London. This legacy of the ice age is also highly valued by specialist craftsmen from Hong Kong to North America who carve exquisite ivory objects and decorate expensive bracelets and caskets.
Mammoth ivory is an important source of revenue for indigenous Siberian peoples, especially in the northeast region of Yakutia where widespread thawing of permafrost has unearthed rich pickings for twentyfirst century ivory hunters. At the same time, the ban on the international trade in elephant ivory has increased the demand for mammoth ivory and some have argued that its exploitation should be encouraged. It is often portrayed as a virtuous source of ivory and Michelle Obama, no less, has been photographed wearing mammothivory jewellery. This trade poses important ethical questions.
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