Photo: The captured ivory reveals how this huge cartel works.

Page 1 of 2: Page 1 Page 2 Missing photos (Center for Conservation Biology, University of Washington) Researchers are analyzing the DNA of the captured elephant ivory to better understand how the ivory cartel works. Samuel Wasser, a professor of biology at the University of Washington and a conservation biologist, and his team developed a method to locate ivory pairs. Here is a pair of ivory in the 20 15 Singapore ivory seizure case. [Read more about how ivory cartels work]

At a warm moment in Amboseli National Park (Art Wolfe/Art Wolfe Company), two African elephants are wrapped around their noses.

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Elephants examine the bones of African elephants with their noses.

Wasser et al. 20 18/ Scientific Progress Wasser identifies and matches the ivory of poached elephants through DNA detection, so as to match the ivory pairs smuggled into the hands of the same smuggler in batches. The map shows different delivery locations, dates and seized weights. Through this process, the geographical origin of ivory is determined, as pointed out by the blue circle. Using an open red circle, some ivory found matches some poached elephant carcasses. Double arrows indicate the connection of ivory pairs.

Criminal evidence (Malaysia National Park Service) found these ivory in the ivory seized in Malaysia on 20 12.

Kate Brooks/the last animal Wasser and his team conducted a forensic analysis of the teeth to determine the source of 4.6 tons of ivory seized in Singapore in 20 15. These containers were shipped from Mombasa, Kenya to Vietnam.

Collecting samples (Malaysia National Park Service) stands on the left, and Washer and his team collect ivory samples detained in Malaysia on 20 14. Read more about how ivory cartels work]

Searching for DNA (Center for Conservation Biology, University of Washington) Wasser and his team developed this process from the need to collect DNA from ivory without degrading genetic material. First, ivory samples were frozen in liquid nitrogen. Then, tiny magnets crush the frozen samples to keep the DNA intact. Here, a worker is handling a piece of ivory.

The team leader (Kate Brooks/the last batch of animals) burned thousands of ivory in Kenya in April 20 16; Samuel Wasser and his team sampled some captured ivory for forensic analysis.

A ranger checks the wildlife tracking system in Zakuma National Park, Chad.

Brave Defender (photo copyright: Artwolf/Artwolf Inc) Rangers in Zakuma National Park pose for photos.

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