Carved Walrus Tusk presented to President William Taft from the Inuit People (1900/1930) by From the Library of Congress Digital CollectionU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Museum
Diplomatic gifts are just a fact of politics. But while most gifts from foreign governments are turned over to the State Department, a few of them have ended up with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Why? Because they contain ivory!
This carved walrus tusk was presented to President Taft and serves as an example of a diplomatic gift.
Ivory: Why it's Illegal
The ivory trade has devastated elephant populations, specifically in Central and West Africa. In 2010-2012 alone, more than 100,000 elephants were killed for their tusks. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is working tirelessly with its international partners to put an end to this trade.
Jeweled Dagger (Jambiya) (2016-11-23) by USFWS photo by Ryan HagertyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Museum
1. Jeweled Jambiya
This dagger (called a Jambiya) was a gift from then-Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Sa'ud of Saudi Arabia to President George W. Bush. Despite the very real and very expensive jewels, U.S. Fish & Wildlife have this jambiya because of the ivory handle.
Ivory Chess Set (2014) by USFWS photo by Ryan HagertyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Museum
2. Chess Set
This chess set was received by Secretary of Defense William Cohen. Note those pieces... that's right: ivory again! Even the dark brown pieces are made of ivory, stained afterwards to create a matching set of chess pieces.
Ivory Chess Set - Pieces (2014) by USFWS photo by Ryan HagertyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Museum
Here's a closer look at the ivory chess pieces. Seems rather cruel to carve an elephant's tusk into a statue of himself!
Omani Khanjar Knife (2014) by USFWS photo by Ryan HagertyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Museum
3. Omani Khanjar Knife
Presented to Ambassador Gary Grappo, this knife has an ivory handle. It was given as a gift in 2009 and remained displayed at the US Embassy until 2012. Along with this knife, three others were gifted; those had plastic handles. Hiding in plain sight!
Omani Khanjar Knife - Unsheathed (2014) by USFWS photo by Ryan HagertyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Museum
The Khanjar Knife unsheathed.
Second Omani Khanjar Knife (2014) by USFWS photo by Ryan HagertyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Museum
4. Another Omani Khanjar Knife
You heard us right! We have two Omani Khanjar Knives that contain ivory handles. This one doesn't have nearly the adventurous story the other has, but its ivory handle lands this weapon in our archives all the same.
Azerbaijan Saber (2014) by USFWS photo by Ryan HagertyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Museum
5. Saber
This beautiful saber unfortunately contains ivory inlays. It was a gift from Colonel-General Safar Akhundbala oghlu Abiyev, Minister of Defense for the Azerbaijan Republic, to General Hugh Shelton.
Azerbaijan Saber - Hilt (2014) by USFWS photo by Ryan HagertyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Museum
Zooming in, the ivory inlay becomes more apparent. One wonders: could this same look be achieved without the death of an elephant?
President Franklin Roosevelt receives a gift (1939) by Courtesy of the Library of CongressU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Museum
Diplomatic gifts can bring nations together... but only if endangered animals are not harmed in the process! As we continue to build international relations, we can only hope endangered animals stay out of the crosshairs.
Exhibit created by Sarah Michael
Historical photographs courtesy of the Library of Congress.
For more information about how the Fish and Wildlife Service combats the ivory trade, click here.
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