Domestic ivory trade: the supply chain for raw ivory in Thailand is driven by the financial needs of elephant owners and market factors

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Chaitae, Apinya;Addison, Jane;Gordon, Iain J.;Marsh, Helene
Abstract

The ivory trade is of global interest due to its impacts on elephant conservation. Thailand permits the domestic trade of ivory from domesticated elephants. Knowledge of the supply chain is important for managing this market in order to achieve sustainable benefits for both wildlife conservation and human livelihoods. We interviewed elephant owners and ivory manufacturers to conduct an analysis of the Thai ivory supply chain. Five key actor groups operate in this supply chain: elephant owners, intermediaries, manufacturers, retailers, and ivory consumers. Factors influencing the supply of raw ivory vary with harvesting, use, and sale destination but the financial needs of elephant owners and market factors are particularly influential. Elephant owner decisions also depend on elephant management, sentimental values, ivory beliefs, tusk forms, and legal awareness. These findings have the potential to inform the design of monitoring the Thai ivory market.

Journal

Human Dimensions of Wildlife

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Volume

28

ISBN/ISSN

1533-158X

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Issue

6

Pages Count

18

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Publisher

Routledge

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EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1080/10871209.2022.2143600