Global trade in elephant ivory has been heavily restricted to protect the dwindling elephant population. While the sale of mammoth ivory, derived from extinct species, remains unregulated, it can be challenging to differentiate between mammoth and elephant ivory. This hurdle often involves a time-consuming and destructive process. To address this, a significant breakthrough has emerged in a study published in PLOS ONE. Researchers have employed a renowned laser technique known as Raman spectroscopy to discern between mammoth and elephant ivory. Their findings hold critical implications given the drastic decline in African elephants from 12 million a century ago to approximately 400,000 today. Over 20,000 elephants are illegally poached for their ivory annually, primarily in Africa, disrupting ecological equilibrium and diminishing biodiversity. The pursuit of mammoth ivory has also become a concern, as modern-day “mammoth hunters” excavate mammoth remains from Siberian permafrost during summer months. Driven by the lucrative market for mammoth ivory, these expeditions disturb protected ecosystems and extract resources valuable to paleontological science. The University of Bristol study, in collaboration with Lancaster University and the Natural History Museum, introduces a potential game-changer. They utilize Raman spectroscopy, a non-invasive laser technique, to identify the origin of ivory. The method analyzes the biochemical composition of ivory, comprised primarily of collagen and hydroxyapatite. Raman spectroscopy, a well-established technique, has found applications in diverse fields. It has been used to identify whisky, study archaeological human bones from the Mary Rose ship, understand the development of turkey tendons, and even determine the purity of meat sold in the food industry. The technique involves directing laser light onto the ivory sample. The energy from the light is temporarily absorbed and then almost instantly re-released, carrying information about molecular vibrations within the material. Each type of ivory exhibits a unique pattern of light, allowing researchers to distinguish between them. The study analyzed elephant and mammoth samples provided by the Natural History Museum in London. It successfully differentiated between mammoth and elephant ivory, including ivory from living elephant species. The extinct woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) and two extant elephant species (Loxodonta and Elephas maximus) were successfully distinguished. This method offers several advantages over traditional ivory analysis techniques. Raman spectroscopy is non-destructive and can be performed quickly, making it suitable for customs officials who need to make rapid decisions. The study was conducted on a benchtop spectrometer within a laboratory, but research suggests that cheaper and portable handheld Raman spectrometers could provide comparable results. Further research will be needed to refine the technique and expand the database of ivory signatures. The researchers are collaborating with Worldwide Wildlife Hong Kong and the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office to develop this technique. Enhanced accuracy in species identification will be possible with more data. It could even help detect finer distinctions, such as the age of the ivory or specific environmental conditions where the elephants or mammoths lived. Complementary methods, such as X-Ray fluorescence spectroscopy, exist to identify the geographical region from which the ivory was taken. As this technique becomes more accessible and widely adopted, it may play a pivotal role in global conservation efforts, contributing to the prevention of illegal elephant ivory trade.
Laser Technology for Distinguishing Mammoth and Elephant Ivory
