Connecticut Has a 'Thriving' Elephant Ivory Market, Investigation Reveals
Advocates are calling for stronger state laws to protect elephants and other animals impacted by the illegal wildlife trade.
Elephant ivory is being offered for sale at 29 stores across Connecticut, according to a new undercover investigation, leading activists to call for stronger laws surrounding the trade.
The Humane Society for the United States (HSUS) investigated 29 shops between New Hartford and Stamford in 2023. Their findings revealed over 160 items suspected to be carved from ivory for sale at 19 stores.
Items ranged from a $12 brooch to a pair of belt charms for $1,250. Other articles included necklaces, earrings, bracelets, statues, napkin holders, game boards, puzzles, a parasol handle, a page turner and letter openers with elephant imagery carvings, according to HSUS.
“Each year, 10,000 to 15,000 elephants are killed by poachers in Africa to supply the demand for their ivory,” said Annie Hornish, Connecticut state director for the Humane Society of the United States. “Our investigation reveals that Connecticut buyers and sellers are directly contributing to the global illegal ivory trade.”
This map shows the locations in Connecticut where the investigator found elephant ivory and parts from other at-risk species being sold. Credit: HSUS
What’s the Law Behind Ivory in the US?
Experts say around 40 elephants are killed every day to supply the demand for their tusks, despite an international commercial ban that has been in place since 1989.
The effects of this are devastating global elephant populations, according to HSUS. A recent report states that there are less than 500,000 remaining elephants in Africa compared to over 1.3 million in the 1970s.
Under US federal law, new elephant ivory cannot be imported, exported or sold across state lines. However, the law does not address sales within a state, meaning that sellers can continue to profit from the ivory trade due to legal loopholes, argue advocates. They say many species like elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and sharks are threatened because of the illegal wildlife trade, fueled by the demand for their parts in the U.S.
Ivory that is antique - at least 100 years old - can be sold as long as the seller can provide documentation on the item’s age and origin. According to HSUS, their investigators were never presented with this required documentation at any of the stores. They say this could mean the ivory items being sold could be sourced from recently poached elephants.
169 pieces of suspected ivory being sold in 19 different stores across Connecticut in November 2023. Credit: HSUS
Some states have taken action to close these loopholes by implementing an outright ban on the trade of parts and products sourced from imperiled species, including elephant ivory. These include California, Hawai'i, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Illinois, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington, D.C.
Now, HSUS are calling for stronger state laws to protect elephants and remove the financial incentives around poaching them. Hornish says: “We must join the 13 states and Washington D.C. that have passed laws to prohibit the sale of ivory. Connecticut cannot continue to allow illegal ivory into our local markets and perpetuate more elephant deaths and criminal activity. Lawmakers are doing the right thing by prioritizing this critical issue and introducing a bill that would ban the sale of parts of at-risk species.”
We Have A Favor To Ask…
Species Unite amplifies well-researched solutions to some of the most abusive animal industries operating today.
At this crucial moment, with worldwide momentum for change building, it’s vital we share these animal-free solutions with the world - and we need your help.
We’re a nonprofit, and so to keep sharing these solutions, we’re relying on you - with your support, we can continue our essential work in growing a powerful community of animal advocates this year.
