Mammoth ivory hunting in Siberia: economic, environmental and palaeontological considerations

Woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) tusks sell for a substantial price that proves to be an economic lifeline for many in the area of the Republic of Sakha, Russia. Ivory is extracted from permafrost through a variety of legal and illegal methods and sold abroad to China, western Europe and North...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inPolar research Vol. 44; pp. 1 - 6
Main Author Hastings, Christopher
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Spånga Open Academia 2025
Norwegian Polar Institute
Subjects
Bans
Climate change
Cultural heritage
Economics
Hunting
Hydraulics
Ivory
ivory trade
Licenses
mammuthus primigenius
Permafrost
Rivers
sakha (yakutia)
Taiga & tundra
Tundra
Wilderness areas
Woolly mammoths
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics > USSR
Arctic region
China
Siberia
Russia
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) tusks sell for a substantial price that proves to be an economic lifeline for many in the area of the Republic of Sakha, Russia. Ivory is extracted from permafrost through a variety of legal and illegal methods and sold abroad to China, western Europe and North America. The ivory trade revolves around three main dilemmas. The ethical balances the needs of people in Sakha with palaeontological, environmental and cultural preservation. The economic presents a struggling regional economy with an accessible and lucrative opportunity. The environment sees the ivory hunting practices decimate areas of protected tundra. This paper discusses these issues and seeks to look at the future of the mammoth ivory trade.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 14
ISSN:0800-0395
1751-8369
DOI:10.33265/polar.v44.10874