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