Before deciding what to do with ivory, it's essential to understand its significance.
Ivory is a dense substance from elephant tusks, crucial for survival in activities like foraging and social interactions. The global ivory trade is worth over $23 billion annually, with ivory valued at more than $3,000 per pound. Due to its value, severe poaching is a huge threat to the elephant population.
What Can You Do?
Wear it
If you lawfully acquired the ivory jewelry, you could wear it as federal laws like CITES and the ESA permit possession and display. However, there may be stigma due to concerns about supporting the ivory trade. Remember the proper way to clean it if you decide to wear it. Ivory is porous and requires careful maintenance to avoid staining and damage from skin contact, oils, and cleaning solutions.
Donate It
If you legally own ivory, you can also donate it to various organizations that support elephant conservation. The National Wildlife Property Repository is a crucial organization accepting such donations. They often use the items for educational purposes to raise awareness and combat illegal trafficking.
The following information is from the National Wildlife Property Repository:
The National Wildlife Property Repository can only accept donations of wildlife products from within the United States of America. Please note that the Repository may not accept all donations, and all requests are subject to review by one of our Wildlife Repository Specialists.
To begin the donation process, please email us at nwpr@fws.gov or call 303-287-2110 and provide us with the following:
- The name, address, phone number, and email address of the individual wishing to abandon an item(s).
- A description and quantity of the item(s) that will be considered for abandonment and a brief description of how they were obtained. Include photographs
The USFWS Office of Law Enforcement's National Wildlife Repository in Commerce City, Colorado, accepts donations of legally owned ivory products. To donate, send your ivory items via USPS, UPS, Federal Express, or another carrier to:
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Property Repository
6550 Gateway Road, Bldg. 128
Commerce City, CO 80022
Attn: Ivory Donations
Please note that all donations are subject to review by a Wildlife Repository Specialist. Contact them at nwpr@fws.gov or (303) 287-2110 for guidance. The donor is responsible for shipping costs and insurance, as the USFWS will not appraise donated items.
For more details, visit the USFWS .
We do not buy or sell ivory at Jewelry & Coin Mart, and we encourage customers to exercise caution and verify the policies of any store that does. Purchasing ivory can contribute to illegal wildlife trafficking and harm elephant populations.