Exhibitions

On view in New York Metropolis Hall

It is estimated that within the United States, the sale of black-market ivory is a $23 billion industry. New York City is the center of this disturbing business.

Between 2015 and 2018 the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Law Enforcement (DEL) launched an undercover operation in New York City known as Operation White Gold to eradicate the domestic black-market elephant ivory trade. High-end antique dealers and wholesale distributors were investigated. It was the largest crackdown on the illegal ivory trade in New York State’s history.

Seized ivory was donated to museums and universities for DNA research and radio-carbon dating.