New technology uses lasers to detect illegal elephant ivory

In the pursuit of ivory, elephants are mercilessly hunted for their tusks by poachers. To curb this ruthless killing, a majority of countries implemented a global ban on elephant ivory trade back in 1989. Despite these regulations, poaching activities have persisted. However, the latest findings suggest that lasers could hold the key to thwarting these illegal practices.

Ivory refers to the tough material found in the tusks of various mammal species, whether existing or extinct. While the sale of ancient ivory, such as that from mastodons, remains legal, recent elephant ivory trading is prohibited. Differentiating between the origins of ivory presents a significant challenge due to their identical appearance.

This ambiguity has enabled poachers and criminal syndicates to profit immensely from the illicit ivory trade by misrepresenting its source. The pivotal task for wildlife and customs authorities lies in distinguishing genuine ivory from illicit origins.

A team of scientists at the University of Bristol, UK, has recently released a novel approach to pinpointing illegal ivory using Raman spectroscopy. Renowned for its effectiveness in analyzing dense materials, this chemical method employs lasers for examination, a long-established practice that has now found a new application in combating poaching.

“Raman spectroscopy excels at detecting distinctions in materials that appear similar but possess different compositions,” elucidates Eve Donnelly, a Cornell University materials scientist. Donnelly’s expertise in utilizing this technique for studying human bones demonstrates its versatility in identifying subtle variations.

By directing a laser at the material under scrutiny, the spectral analysis reveals a unique “molecular fingerprint” based on the characteristic bonds present, enabling the precise identification of the sample’s composition.

Unlocking the Mysteries of Elephants

The researchers highlighted the structural resemblance between ivory and bone, prompting them to explore whether Raman spectroscopy could discern the source of ivory with accuracy.

Rebecca Shepherd noted, “This method allows us to differentiate between various elephant species and their counterparts, including woolly mammoths.” Leading the study as an anatomist, Shepherd underscores the instrument’s capability.

While acknowledging other rapid methods for identifying ivory sources, Shepherd acknowledges the non-destructive feature of Raman spectroscopy as a crucial advantage.

Their significant findings were shared in PLoS ONE on April 24.

Impending Perils for Elephants

During the early 1800s, Africa teemed with tens of millions of elephants. Nonetheless, by the introduction of the ivory ban, the elephant population faced imminent extinction. Presently, the global elephant count stands slightly above 400,000, signifying a recovery from endangerment. Despite this progress, the onslaught of ivory poaching remains severe, resulting in the loss of up to 15,000 elephants annually and perpetuating their extinction vulnerability.

Insight into Endangered Species

More than 4,000 years ago, mammoths met their demise, with some specimens preserved in Siberia’s permafrost. However, the thawing permafrost due to climate change has fueled the pursuit of mammoth remains and ivory worldwide.

With mammoth ivory closely resembling elephant ivory, Shepherd underlines the diagnostic value of the new technique in discerning the ivory’s origin, whether from living or extinct sources.

Shepherd envisions expanding her research scope to differentiate bone or tooth samples from diverse creatures, including narwhals and sperm whales.

Collaborating with the World Wildlife Fund, Shepherd aims to enhance poaching prevention strategies, proposing the integration of laser technology into existing border control devices for swift ivory assessment.

“Establishing an extensive ivory database for public access would facilitate species identification and origins of ivory samples, potentially stymying illegal trade activities,” Shepherd states, advocating for a preliminary screening tool.

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