Tickle Me Ivory

Ban on ivory proposed in Africa

Hey, wait a minute... I thought the ivory trade was already illegal. Heck, if there's a market for a thing, there will be people who will take the risk to obtain it. What in the world gets made with real elephant ivory anymore? And who buys it? If the stuff's worth $850 per kilo, obviously somebody with some serious dough is willing to purchase it and own it, so I'm guessing it's not likely to be your average run-of-the-mill African.

Real ivory's certainly beautiful, but I wouldn't own it, even as an antique showpiece. The idea that an elephant had to die for it, well, that just makes it not worth the beauty.

I'd like to know who's paying that $850 per kilo and why...