RHINO HORN & ELEPHANT, HIPPOPOTAMUS &WARTHOG IVORY
RHINO HORN & ELEPHANT, HIPPOPOTAMUS &WARTHOG IVORY BLACK RHINO (Diceros bicornis bicornis) WHITE RHINO (Ceratotherium simum) ELEPHANT (Loxodonta africana) PHOTO : J. Rosmarin PHOTO : J. Rosmarin PHOTO : J. du Toit, DEA HIPPOPOTAMUS (Hippopotamus amphibius) PHOTO : J. Rosmarin WARTHOG (Phacochoerus africanus) PHOTO: D. Gordon and E. Robertson MAMMALS – RHINO, ELEPHANT, HIPPO, WARTHOG BLACK RHINO HORN WHITE RHINO HORN PHOTO: Jacques du Toit, DEA PHOTO: Jacques du Toit, DEA ELEPHANT IVORY HIPPOPOTAMUS IVORY WARTHOG IVORY PHOTO : Jacques du Toit, DEA PHOTO : Jacques du Toit, DEA PHOTOS: Jacques du Toit, DEA PHOTOS: RSPCA Raw elephant tusks PHOTO: Simon Milledge RAPID FIELD IDENTIFICATION OF AFRICAN RHINO HORN SHAPE, TEXTURE, COLOUR, SMELL Fake rhino horns are common. They may be made from other animal horn (e.g. cow, buffalo), wood, plastic, fiberglass, stone or bamboo root. Real rhino horns are formed from tough compacted hairs (made of keratin) which provide great strength and flexibility: a horn will bounce and will not break if dropped. •Size variable - horns continue to grow throughout a rhino’s life •Very dense and hard, especially towards the tip •Normally curve backwards although much variation •Colour varies from dark grey to reddish-brown (Generally darker colouration towards the tip) •Older, polished horn may become slightly translucent •Generally not round, but elliptical in cross-section •The keratin, if burned, will smell of sulphur, just like burning hair. PHOTO: J. Rosmarin R F R F FRONT - REAR Front horns generally longer and more curved Front (F) horns may have flattened front Rear (R) horns normally more laterally compressed Base of rear horn has more undulating edge BASE Base is usually rough and fibrous (and while it may contain tissue and blood / soft tissue, it contains no bone) Concave base to fit over skull attachments .Sponge-like texture MALE - FEMALE Male horns (M) are often more slender than female horns (F) F B B HAIR FIBRES Magnification of a longitudinal section of rhino horn showing the closely packed hair fibres (left). M W W Hair fibres are visible, especially if a part of the horn surface is cut away with a knife Credit: Simon Milledge/ TRAFFIC East/ Southern Africa, BLACK / WHITE Base of the Black rhino horns (B) are generally more circular whilst White rhino (W) horns are generally more square. White rhino horns are also normally larger and more robust PRACTICAL TESTS FOR RHINO HORN A simple field kit for rhino horn identification can consist of a lighter, penknife, torch and magnifying glass. Bounce: Rhino horn will bounce and not break when dropped from shoulder height. Heat: Cut a shaving of the horn and light it. Burning rhino horn smells like burning hair. Cut: The fibrous structure is visible when the surface, which may be shiny, is cut away. Light: Rhino horn displays luminescence when a torch is shone along its edge. Magnify: Fibres are more easily visible on the surface under low magnification. B R F W NEMBA Status: Endangered CITES Listing: Appendix I NEMBA Status: Protected CITES Listing: Appendix II PHOTO : J. Rosmarin White Rhinoceros – Ceratotherium simum PHOTO : J. du Toit Black Rhinoceros – Diceros bicornis bicornis Geographic Location: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Botswana, Zambia (extra limital), Mozambique. Occurs in all provinces of South Africa but has been introduced into areas in the Western and Eastern Cape. Distinguishing Characteristics Distinguishing Characteristics: PHOTO: Jacques du Toit, DEA Geographic Location: Indigenous populations in a number of countries incl. South Africa and Namibia. Northern, Eastern and Western Cape and North West Province PHOTO: Jacques du Toit, DEA Base of the Black rhino horns are generally more circular PHOTOS above: Wildlife Trade Handbook – TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa White rhino (W) horns are generally more square. They are also normally larger and more robust PHOTOS: Wildlife Trade Handbook – TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa SMUGGLED RHINO HORN Hair fibres are visible at base of horn Scanner indicating that rhino horn has an embedded microchip and it’s origin can be traced White rhino horn – base more square Black rhino horn – base more circular ALL PHOTOS: Jacques du Toit, DEA IMAGE:http://www.taxidermyemporium.c o.uk/8.html IMAGE:http://www.britishhistoricaltaxiderm ysociety.co.uk/rowlandward.htm IMAGE: www.taxidermyemporium.co.uk Mounted rhino head trophy Rhino foot umbrella stand Rhino foot RHINO PARTS, DERIVATIVES AND PRODUCTS Black rhino horn – base more circular PHOTO: Jacques du Toit White rhino horn – base more square Black and White Rhino horns NEMBA Status: Protected CITES Listing: Appendix II PHOTO : J. Rosmarin Elephant - Loxodonta africana Geographic Location: Sub-Saharan Africa. Provinces incl. KZN, Eastern and Western Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West Province Distinguishing Characteristics Traded as: Identifying Elephant Ivory Polished cross-sections of elephant ivory display uniquely characteristic Schreger lines. The Schreger lines form cross-hatches within the actual ivory—not to be confused with surface scratches. 18 mm PHOTOS: J. du Toit, DEA Schreger lines PHOTO: J. du Toit, DEA Raw elephant tusks PHOTO: Simon Milledge Above: Photo of a small piece of ivory (note scale) with black dashes showing the direction of Schreger lines. PHOTO: (above) Adam Pires PHOTOS: (above) J. du Toit , DEA ELEPHANT IVORY – SCHREGER LINES 18 mm Polished cross-sections of elephant ivory display uniquely characteristic Schreger lines. The Schreger lines form crosshatches within the actual ivory—not to be confused with surface scratches. PHOTO: Adam Pires Schreger lines PHOTOS (left and above): Jacques du Toit, DEA Chris R. Shepherd/TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Elephant Molars for sale, Myanmar Chris R. Shepherd/TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Yangon, Myanmar Chris R. Shepherd/TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Elephant skin, Myanmar Chris R. Shepherd/TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Elephant tusk for sale, Myanmar Chris R. Shepherd/TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Worked and raw ivory, Myanmar Ivory on sale in Vietnam is commonly mixed in with pig teeth and carved bone, perhaps in an attempt to dupe government inspectors, the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC said in a report. © Daniel Stiles/TRAFFIC Chris R. Shepherd/TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Elephant tail hair rings, Myanmar SMUGGLED ELEPHANT IVORY ALL PHOTOS: Jacques du Toit, DEA SMUGGLED ELEPHANT IVORY All Photos: Jacques du Toit, DEA Image (above): ©2008 Wayne Hepburn Elephant tusk Hippopotamus – Hippopotamus amphibius NEMBA Status: Not listed CITES Listing: Appendix II Geographic Location: Widespread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, avoiding desert. Although there has been considerable range shrinkage through exploitation. Provinces incl. KZN, Eastern Cape, isolated localities in Limpopo and North West Province, Mpumalanga In cross section, the lower canines are triangular Enamel is found on the tooth crown IMAGE: US Fish and Wildlife Forensic Lab www.labs.fws.gov THE INCISORS Can be described as peg-shaped Cross-section of the upper canines PHOTO http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hippo _skull_dark.jpg THE UPPER CANINES IMAGE: US Fish and Wildlife Forensic Lab www.labs.fws.gov PHOTO http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HippoJaw.jpg IMAGE: US Fish and Wildlife Forensic Lab www.labs.fws.gov THE LOWER CANINES are the hippo's largest teeth and are strongly curved PHOTO: Jacques. du Toit PHOTO: Jacques du Toit. Distinguishing Characteristics Raw and carved Hippo teeth (above) (Photo: © Pol Meuleneire). In a cross-section, the incisors are oval and the centre of the incisor shows a small dot. PHOTO: © Pol Meuleneire. PHOTO: D. Gordon and E. Robertson Warthog – Phacochoerus africanus NEMBA Status: Not Listed CITES Listing: Not Listed Distinguishing Characteristics Tusks are strongly curved http://kenyanewsnetwork.blogspot.com Geographic Location: Widespread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Northern and Eastern parts of the country from the Limpopo Province to the Northern Cape. Introduced to the Eastern Cape. Other provinces incl: Gauteng, KZN, Mpumalanga, North West Province. Warthog ivory tends to have a mottled appearance PHOTO: J. du Toit, DEA Warthog ivory comes from the animal’s upper and lower canine teeth In a cross-section of a warthog tusk, the dentine shows irregularly spaced concentric lines of varying thicknesses Cross-section of a warthog tusk IMAGE: US Fish and Wildlife Forensic Lab www.labs.fws.gov PHOTO: John Crighton http://www.africahunting.com/hunting-forum/namibia-huntingreports/752-namibia-hunt-report-post-trip-report.html Copyright © Africa Hunting .com The Tusk Interstitial Zone (TIZ) is a narrow line Tusks have generally squared cross-sections Upper and Lower Tusks #1 indicates the gum line, where the tusk comes out of the facial bone. On a mature male Warthog, the average circumference around the gum line, also called base size, is about 12.06 cm. #2 indicates the typical length of upper tusk inside the facial bone which is about 8.89 cm on a mature male Warthog. This is included in the total measurement. IMAGE: http://www.africahunting.com/hunting-forum/namibiahunting-reports/752-namibia-hunt-report-post-trip-report.html Copyright © Africa Hunting .com Images: www.thesmithsshop.com Raw and carved Hippo teeth (above) (Photo: © Pol Meuleneire). In a cross section, the lower canines are triangular A key fob carved from warthog tooth (above). Tooth measures 90mm along curve. PHOTO: ©2008 Wayne Hepburn http://www.himandus.net/elefunt eria/library/science+nature/ivory .html Tusks have generally squared crosssections The flattened area is usually an indicator of hippo ivory Image: www.trophyroomcollection.com Hippo ivory (left) and Warthog ivory (right) PHOTO http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hippo_skull_dark.jpg PHOTO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sa-warthog.jpg Image: www.trophyroomcollection.com PHOTO: www.trophyroomcollection.com IVORY PAINTED / POLISHED AND DISGUISED AS AFRICAN CURIOS (WOOD CARVINGS) FOUND ENTERING THE USA BY US CUSTOMS OFFICIALS AND FISH AND WILDLIFE INSPECTORS PHOTOS: Jacques du Toit , DEA Scraping reveals ivory underneath PHOTOS: Jacques du Toit , DEA IVORY DISGUISED AS AFRICAN CURIOS (BEADWORK) AND PAINTED/STAINED AS WOOD FOUND ENTERING THE USA BY US CUSTOMS OFFICIALS AND FISH AND WILDLIFE INSPECTORS Synthetic & Ivory Substitutes: The worldwide demand for art pieces made from ivory remains unabated. It is sold on black markets at fantastic prices and smuggled into countries for sale to those who can afford it. Meanwhile, creative craftsmen and entrepreneurs in Asia have come up with numerous ways to legally and [hopefully] ethically cash in on the desire to own beautiful ivory pieces. Synthetics ... Plastic is probably first and foremost among the replacement materials for ivory. While it has none of the cachet of carved ivory, it can be molded to replicate virtually any object otherwise made from true ivory. Modern plastics chemistry is able to combine resins and polymers with other materials and closely simulate ivory in every respect. Bone ... Large white or ivory colored or bleached bones have become a significant medium for carving. Favored of course are large bones from animals such as whales and common cattle. Large individual bones are carved with power tools rather than hand tools so more finished goods can be produced. Smaller bones are ground into powder and mixed with binders to make a substance which appears to be ivory and functions very much like the real thing. Teeth ... Other than the incisors of walruses, elephants and mammoths, there are animals whose teeth are large enough to be useful for carving art objects. The hippopotamus is one example. The narwhal's long single tusk is another. Whale teeth and fossil teeth from prehistoric sea creatures are also used. This figure could easily pass for ivory if one did not know better. It is resin, mixed with powdered bone then cast in a mould and refined by hand. The narrow width is 117mm [4 5/8"], the length is 170mm [6 5/8"] and the height is 197mm [7 3/4"]. The dimensions alone would tell you it is not elephant ivory. The standing man is a separate piece bonded to the elephant and rider. No one these days has access to any tusk with a five inch diameter unless it is fossil mammoth ivory. The carving would place this piece in the range of thousands of dollars instead of the $225 it cost when acquired in 1994. All contents ©2008 Wayne Hepburn unless otherwise noted. Permission is granted to use contents in non-commercial, not for profit, applications and for "fair use" excerpts as provided in current International Copyright Law. No content from this site may be sold by anyone except copyright owner. http://www.himandus.net/elefunteria/library/science+nature/ivory.html Vegetable ivory Vegetable ivory, also known as corozo, is a name used for the tagua nut in the South American rainforest. When dried out, it can be carved as an ivory replica. Both humanitarians and environmentalists can appreciate it, for its use stimulates the economies in South America, provides an alternative to cutting down rainforests for farming, and prevents elephants from being killed for the ivory in their tusks. The ivory-nut palm, Phytelephas aequatorialis, is one plant that can be harvested for vegetable ivory. It is often used for beads, buttons, and jewelry, and can be dyed. Phytelephas macrocarpa, another species in the Phytelephas genus, is also used for this purpose. More recently, palm ivory has been used to make bagpipes. The tagua nut is an extremely hard nut that comes from the ivory-nut palm. Its endosperm can be carved and polished like ivory, making it a botanical alternative to elephant ivory and giving rise to the name "vegetable ivory." Before carving, the nut is covered with a brown, flaky skin and shaped like a small avocado. Tagua nuts can be found in the rainforest, typically on the ground, where their outer skin is eaten by the various animals populating the region. The nuts' diameter ranges roughly from 4-8 cm in diameter. Often, these nuts are used for carvings in rings and other figurines as microenterprises for third world countries in South America. (Wikipedia – www.wikipedia.com) This figure was carved from a tagua nut and closely resembles ivory. From the author's collection. Measures 56mm high x 22mm wide x 36mm long. Size limits the usefulness of tagua for commercial carvers. All contents ©2008 Wayne Hepburn unless otherwise noted. Permission is granted to use contents in non-commercial, not for profit, applications and for "fair use" excerpts as provided in current International Copyright Law. No content from this site may be sold by anyone except copyright owner. http://www.himandus.net/elefunteria/library/science+nature/ivory.html SOURCE: US Fish and Wildlife Services: http://www.lab.fws.gov/ivory_id.php
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