China’s rush for ivory ill omen for Africa’s jumbos

A traffic researcher currently carrying out field investigations across China and who requested anonymity given the sensitive nature of her work, says the illegal ivory trade is now rife across China with contraband ivory at least a third cheaper than in official stores.

Meanwhile, after having been starved of fresh African ivory for years and scraping by on rare and price excavated mammoth tusks, Chinese carvers hope the recent availability of ivory will keep their ancient craft alive.

Export our carvings

“This will help us survive,” said 77-year-old Li Dingning who has watched Guangzhou’s once booming ivory industry get whittled down to around 100 master carvers including himself.
“Only if you have the raw materials to work with, will people learn (to carve ivory). If not, then everyone will find other jobs,” Li added.

Carvers are banking on more of China’s affluent masses buying their wares which are seen as status symbols and can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“Before the 1990’s you couldn’t buy ivory within China. We used to only export our carvings,” Li said, as he stood before a monumental ivory boat carved from a single massive tusk, with thousands of miniature figurines milling over multiple decks. “But now it can be freely circulated so there are more people than ever who want to buy ivory carvings and products.”