Latest news with #ivory
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
Undercover investigation exposes illegal ivory sales in Pennsylvania
A major investigation is exposing the illegal sale of ivory in Pennsylvania, including in the Pittsburgh area, according to the Humane World for Animals, formerly called the Humane Society of the United States. The agency was in Harrisburg with lawmakers on Monday and said its findings show that it's time to end wildlife trafficking in Pennsylvania. Illicit ivory sales in Pennsylvania Images captured during a Humane World for Animals' undercover investigation show some of the 383 pieces of ivory for sale across Pennsylvania. "The items showed signs of originating from elephants, whales, warthog, hippos, walruses and mammoths, or were ivory of underdetermined origin," said Whitney Teamus, senior director of investigations for Humane World for Animals. The investigators also found a giraffe's taxidermied head, neck and shoulders on sale for $6,000. Of the 63 stores and online retailers investigated, Humane World for Animals said 37 had ivory or other wildlife products for sale, including four stores in Allegheny County and two in Butler County. Teamus said in total, they found jewelry, figurines, letter openers and other trinkets worth $38,000. "Not one of the sellers had or could provide any information or documentation to verify the age or origin of the ivory items. Without such documentation, it is impossible to know whether those items were imported in violation of federal law. Some items identified as ivory were labeled as bone. This is often a misleading sales tactic we and others have witnessed in other investigations to obscure the trade of these items," Teamus said. Investigators said their findings show the ivory trade is thriving in Pennsylvania, adding that something needs to be done to stop it. "Iconic species across the planet continue to face the threat of extinction due to demand for their body parts," said Gabe Wigtil, program director of wildlife trafficking for Humane World for Animals. "If there are no markets left for such products, there is no incentive for poachers to continue to kill animals for their skin, teeth, tusks, bones, or anything else," Wigtil added. Pennsylvania lawmakers move to protect animals Several state representatives are hoping House Bill 994, which prohibits wildlife trafficking in Pennsylvania, will become law. It would ban the sale and purchase of parts from at-risk animals, including elephants, giraffes, hippos, and many more. "House Bill 994 would combat wildlife poaching and trafficking by ensuring that Pennsylvania residents are not supporting the illegal wildlife trade," said state Rep. Leanne Krueger, primary sponsor of HB 994. "We have the opportunity now to make change, hearing the groundbreaking results of your investigation and thinking of all the animals we can save," said state Rep. Melissa Shusterman, co-chair of the Pennsylvania Animal Protection Caucus. "This greatly deserves our attention before it's too late for these animals and they disappear in our lifetime," said state Rep. Tim Briggs, chair of the House Judiciary Committee. The bill passed a House committee on Monday, and the state representatives expect it to be on the House floor soon. The bill includes a long list of at-risk animals and civil penalties on those who sell and buy ivory and other animal products. Rep. Krueger's memo to other lawmakers reads in part, "Specifically, my legislation will prohibit the purchase, sale, offer for sale, or possession with the intent to sell covered at-risk animal parts or products with certain exceptions. My legislation will levy civil penalties for the following: A first violation with a value under $250 for a covered animal part or product will subject to fine not to exceed $5,000. A first violation with a value over $250 for a covered animal part or product will be subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000. A second or subsequent violation with a value under $250 for a covered animal part or product will subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000. A second or subsequent violation with a value over $250 for a covered animal part or product will be subject to a fine not exceeding $20,000."
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Knives and ivory stolen in 'targeted burglary' of vacant home
Knives, ivory ornaments and a historic telescope have been stolen from a vacant house in Police said the ten ivory items, several knives, a glass paperweight, two vases, and an iron field telescope had been stolen from the Castel home in a "targeted burglary".The force said it had asked local and UK militaria dealers and auction houses whether the items had been presented to them, but the items had not been asked anyone who had seen the items or been offered them for sale to come forward. They said the ivory pieces included two elephants, an owl, a bookmark, a pair of boots and five male stolen were a multi-coloured paperweight, a red glass vase, a blue china vase and the telescope which is thought to originate from World War Two, they added.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Indonesian police uncover online ivory trade via TikTok and Facebook
Indonesian authorities have arrested four people accused of trafficking elephant ivory disguised as smoking pipes and sold on TikTok and Facebook. The suspects were arrested in separate operations in the cities of Sukabumi, West Java and Jakarta, according to Brigadier General Nunung Syaifuddin of the National Police's Directorate of Special Economic Crimes. Two of the suspects were caught conducting a live sales session on TikTok, where they allegedly promoted smoking pipes made from elephant tusk. Officers seized about 300 ivory pipes and eight pieces of elephant tusk, along with mobile phones, bank books and livestreaming equipment. All trade in elephant ivory is banned in Indonesia under the country's wildlife conservation laws, which align with international efforts to protect endangered species. Asian elephants are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with their populations threatened by habitat loss and poaching for ivory. While the physical sale of ivory has been driven underground in many countries, conservation groups have warned traders are increasingly moving online, where enforcement is more difficult. A 2022 report by the wildlife monitoring network TRAFFIC highlighted Indonesia as one of several countries where online ivory trading has been increasing despite regulatory crackdowns. If convicted, the suspects could face prison sentences under Indonesia's conservation laws, which carry penalties of up to five years' imprisonment and substantial fines.
