To: Your local Politicians (State and Federal)
RE: Attempts to ban Fossil Ivory
It is a well-known fact that mammoths, mastodons and wooly rhinos have been extinct (dead) for thousands of years.
Recent legislation in states across the nation have included the fossil ivory from these animals in an attempt to reduce the
illegal trade of modern day elephant ivory.
There is a DISTINCT difference between long extinct animals and modern day elephants that we would like to show you.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service published an Ivory Identification Guide in 2010, focusing on the ‘species determining’
characteristics of the ivory material itself. (http://www.fws.gov/lab/ivory.php) Identification is not rocket science and if
there is any question about the age of the ivory, any trained specialist can easily identify the species of the specimen.
Modern Day Elephant
Schreger Lines
Fossil Mammoth
Schreger Lines
Talk of putting the extinct animals on an “endangered species” list is even more ludicrous and serves no purpose in
protecting modern day elephants, yet this is the direction some extremists are pursuing. A ban on fossil ivory will not save
a single elephant and will have a severe negative financial impact on law abiding citizens who own, buy, sell, trade and
work with fossil ivory. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has on numerous occasions in the past stated that the
legal trade in decades-old ivory in this country is NOT the problem. These bills are not supported by facts or science, and
obviously, common sense. Studies by ETIS (The Elephant Trade Information System set up by CITES) indicate that
virtually none of the ivory from modern elephants being poached in Africa today is coming to the U.S. (African Elephant
Summit Background Document 2013, pages 16-18). The U.S. is already the world leader in the fight against the trafficking
of illicit animal parts by a significant margin.
A significant amount of fossil Mammoth ivory is collected annually by Native Americans in Alaska along riverbanks and on
the beaches where tusks are found due to erosion. If not collected, it quickly degrades and is lost forever. There are
thousands of amateur fossil collectors who work together with paleontologists on a daily basis within the science, much
the same as amateur astronomers work with professional astronomers. Fossil clubs and amateur collectors alert
paleontologists to new finds. Many fossil museums actively buy and sell fossil teeth from mammoths, mastodons, whales
and sharks. The poorly worded legislation could legally prevent a 10-year-old kid from buying or selling a fossil he finds on
the beach or in his backyard. And what about the farmer who unearths a skeleton in his field? Or the gravel pit operator
who uncovers a specimen? Do you think a local museum, university or collector will be contacted? Probably not.
Banning fossil ivory will not save a single elephant. A ban on fossil ivory is ill-conceived, offensive to any educated
individual and probably will result in the loss of an unknown number of specimens to science. This is a question of basic
property rights of an individual. This has nothing to do with money, greed or power. Banning prehistoric Mammoth ivory
will result in the loss of these specimens forever. Millions of fossils are lost each year to the ravages of nature. Why add
insult to injury by allowing even more loss?
Once again, fossil ivory is easily distinguishable from elephant ivory and is legal to be collected, bought and sold
around the world. Not protecting these fossils is a crime to our heritage and our history. This is insane. Common sense
needs to come into play. Fossil ivory DOES NOT have any impact on modern day elephants. Period. Please be educated.
We ask for your support to NOT include fossil ivory in any legislation.
Sincerely,