RHINO HORN & ELEPHANT, HIPPOPOTAMUS &WARTHOG IVORY
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RHINO HORN & ELEPHANT, HIPPOPOTAMUS &WARTHOG IVORY
BLACK RHINO WHITE RHINO ELEPHANT
(Diceros bicornis bicornis) (Ceratotherium simum) (Loxodonta africana)
PHOTO : J. Rosmarin
PHOTO : J. Rosmarin
PHOTO : J. du Toit, DEA
HIPPOPOTAMUS WARTHOG
(Hippopotamus amphibius) (Phacochoerus africanus)
PHOTO : J. Rosmarin 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
PHOTO: J. Rosmarin •The keratin, if burned, will smell of sulphur, just like burning hair.
FRONT - REAR
MALE - FEMALE HAIR FIBRES
Front horns generally
Male horns (M) Magnification
longer and more curved
are often more of a longitudinal
Front (F) horns may
slender than section of rhino
have flattened front
female horns (F) horn showing
Rear (R) horns normally
the closely
more laterally
packed hair
compressed
fibres (left).
Base of rear horn has
R F R F more undulating edge F M
BASE B W BLACK / WHITE
Base is usually rough and Base of the Black
fibrous (and while it may rhino horns (B) are
contain tissue and blood / generally more
soft tissue, it contains no circular whilst
bone) White rhino (W)
B horns are generally
Concave base to fit over skull more square. White
attachments .Sponge-like texture
W
rhino horns are
also normally larger
Hair fibres are visible, especially if a and more robust
part of the horn surface is cut away
with a knife
Credit: Simon Milledge/ TRAFFIC East/ Southern Africa,
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. R F
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 W
Black Rhinoceros – Diceros bicornis bicornis White Rhinoceros – Ceratotherium simum
PHOTO : J. Rosmarin
NEMBA Status: Endangered NEMBA Status: Protected
PHOTO : J. du Toit
CITES Listing: Appendix I CITES Listing: Appendix II
Geographic Location: Indigenous populations in a number of Geographic Location: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe,
countries incl. South Africa and Namibia. Northern, Eastern and Swaziland, Botswana, Zambia (extra limital), Mozambique. Occurs
Western Cape and North West Province 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
PHOTO: Jacques du Toit, DEA
White rhino (W) horns are
generally more square.
They are also normally
Base of the Black rhino larger and more robust
horns are generally
more circular PHOTOS: Wildlife Trade
Handbook – TRAFFIC
East/Southern Africa
PHOTOS above: 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.britishhistoricaltaxiderm
IMAGE:http://www.taxidermyemporium.c
IMAGE: www.taxidermyemporium.co.uk
ysociety.co.uk/rowlandward.htm
o.uk/8.html
Mounted rhino head trophy Rhino foot umbrella stand Rhino foot
RHINO PARTS, DERIVATIVES AND PRODUCTS
Black rhino horn –
base more circular
White rhino horn –
PHOTO: Jacques du Toit
base more square
Black and White Rhino horns
Elephant - Loxodonta africana NEMBA Status: Protected
CITES Listing: Appendix II
PHOTO : J. Rosmarin
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.
PHOTOS: J. du Toit, DEA
mm
18
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
Polished cross-sections of elephant ivory
display uniquely characteristic Schreger
18 mm
lines. The Schreger lines form cross-
hatches within the actual ivory—not to be
Schreger
lines confused with surface scratches.
PHOTO: Adam Pires
PHOTOS (left and above): Jacques du Toit, DEA
Chris R. Shepherd/TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Chris R. Shepherd/TRAFFIC Southeast Asia
Elephant Molars for sale, Myanmar 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
Ivory on sale in Vietnam is commonly mixed in with pig teeth Elephant tail hair rings, Myanmar
Chris R. Shepherd/TRAFFIC Southeast Asia and carved bone, perhaps in an attempt to dupe government
Worked and raw ivory, Myanmar inspectors, the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC
said in a report.
© Daniel Stiles/TRAFFICSMUGGLED ELEPHANT IVORY
ALL PHOTOS: Jacques du Toit, DEASMUGGLED ELEPHANT IVORY
Image (above): ©2008 Wayne Hepburn
Elephant tusk
All Photos: Jacques du Toit, DEAHippopotamus – 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
Distinguishing Characteristics
IMAGE: US Fish and
Wildlife Forensic Lab
PHOTO: Jacques du
www.labs.fws.gov
PHOTO: Jacques. du Toit
Toit.
PHOTO
Cross-section of the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hippo
THE LOWER CANINES upper canines _skull_dark.jpg
PHOTO http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HippoJaw.jpg
are the hippo's largest
teeth and are strongly
THE UPPER CANINES
curved
IMAGE: US Fish and
Wildlife Forensic Lab
www.labs.fws.gov
IMAGE: US Fish and
Wildlife Forensic Lab
www.labs.fws.gov
Raw and carved Hippo teeth
(above)
(Photo: © Pol Meuleneire).
In cross section, the THE INCISORS In a cross-section, the incisors are oval and the
lower canines are Can be centre of the incisor shows a small dot.
triangular described as
peg-shaped
Enamel is found on PHOTO: © Pol Meuleneire.
the tooth crownPHOTO: D. Gordon and
Warthog – Phacochoerus africanus NEMBA Status: Not Listed
CITES Listing: Not Listed
E. Robertson
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.
http://kenyanewsnetwork.blogspot.com
Distinguishing Characteristics
Warthog ivory
tends to have
a mottled
appearance
PHOTO: J. du Toit, DEA
Warthog
In a cross-section of ivory comes
a warthog tusk, the from the
dentine shows animal’s
Tusks are strongly curved irregularly spaced upper and
concentric lines of lower canine
varying thicknesses teeth
PHOTO: John Crighton http://www.africahunting.com/hunting-forum/namibia-hunting-
reports/752-namibia-hunt-report-post-trip-report.html Copyright © Africa Hunting .com
Cross-section of a warthog tusk
Forensic Lab www.labs.fws.gov
IMAGE: US Fish and Wildlife
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.
The Tusk Interstitial Tusks have generally
Zone (TIZ) is a narrow IMAGE: http://www.africahunting.com/hunting-forum/namibia-
squared cross-sections hunting-reports/752-namibia-hunt-report-post-trip-report.html
line Copyright © Africa Hunting .comRaw and carved Hippo A key fob carved from
Images: www.thesmithsshop.com
teeth (above) warthog tooth (above).
(Photo: © Pol Meuleneire). Tooth measures 90mm
along curve. PHOTO: ©2008
Wayne Hepburn -
http://www.himandus.net/elefunt
In a cross eria/library/science+nature/ivory
section, the .html
lower canines
are triangular
Tusks have
generally
squared cross-
The flattened area sections
is usually an
indicator of hippo
ivory
PHOTO: www.trophyroomcollection.com
Hippo ivory (left) and Warthog ivory (right)
Image: www.trophyroomcollection.com
Image: www.trophyroomcollection.com
PHOTO PHOTO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sa-warthog.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hippo_skull_dark.jpgIVORY PAINTED / POLISHED
AND DISGUISED AS AFRICAN
CURIOS (WOOD CARVINGS) -
FOUND ENTERING THE USA BY
US CUSTOMS OFFICIALS AND
FISH AND WILDLIFE INSPECTORS
Scraping reveals ivory underneath
PHOTOS: Jacques du Toit , DEAIVORY DISGUISED AS AFRICAN
CURIOS (BEADWORK) AND
PAINTED/STAINED AS WOOD -
FOUND ENTERING THE USA BY
US CUSTOMS OFFICIALS AND
FISH AND WILDLIFE INSPECTORS
PHOTOS: Jacques du Toit , DEASynthetic & 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 This figure could easily pass for ivory if one did not know better. It
make a substance which appears to be ivory and is resin, mixed with powdered bone then cast in a mould and
functions very much like the real thing. 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
Teeth ... Other than the incisors of walruses, elephants alone would tell you it is not elephant ivory. The standing man is
and mammoths, there are animals whose teeth are a separate piece bonded to the elephant and rider. No one these
large enough to be useful for carving art objects. The days has access to any tusk with a five inch diameter unless it is
hippopotamus is one example. The narwhal's long fossil mammoth ivory. The carving would place this piece in the
single tusk is another. Whale teeth and fossil teeth range of thousands of dollars instead of the $225 it cost when
from prehistoric sea creatures are also used. 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.htmlVegetable 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.
This figure was carved from a tagua nut and closely
resembles ivory. From the author's collection.
The nuts' diameter ranges roughly from 4-8 cm in diameter.
Measures 56mm high x 22mm wide x 36mm long.
Often, these nuts are used for carvings in rings and other
Size limits the usefulness of tagua for commercial
figurines as microenterprises for third world countries in South
carvers.
America. (Wikipedia – www.wikipedia.com)
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.htmlSOURCE: US Fish and Wildlife Services: http://www.lab.fws.gov/ivory_id.php
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