During the past year, authorities have seized nearly 24 tons of ivory, indicating the death of more than 23,000 elephants.

Now, UW conservation biologists are using elephant DNA to map the origin of ivory traded in the black market.

Working with biologists like Samuel Wasser, director for the Center of Conservation Biology, authorities will be able to find specific locations and target protection for endangered elephants in areas of heavy poaching.

“The laws only exclude trade across international borders,” Wasser said. “Once the ivory makes it into the country of sale, it can be sold legally because there is no way of telling how it got there.”

Wasser and his colleagues have been collecting genetic information by sampling ivory tissue from various known populations.

“My job was to pulverize, extract, amplify the DNA, analyze the data and organize the data,” said Celia Mailand, a biologist and a member of Wasser’s research team. “A lot of time [was spent] optimizing extractions and amplification protocols.”

Law enforcement officers have identified many participants in poaching using this genetic information, Wasser said.

The biologist believes that unless Western nations reinstate strong enforcement efforts, elephants will be further pushed toward extinction.

“The price of high-quality ivory has more than quadrupled in the last year and a half,” Wasser said.

Currently, an elephant’s ivory tusk is worth $750 and rising on the black market.

Because ivory comes from teeth and tusks, other species are also being hunted.

“The rhino is also heavily poached for medicinal and dagger handles,” said Mailand. “Conservations often saw off their horns so that they will not be killed by poachers.”

Yet, elephants are still the most sought after.

“Only elephant ivory is in such demand [and] this is largely cultural-based,” Wasser said. “Owning an ivory seal is considered a sign of wealth and the growing middle class in the Far East wants very much to portray their newly found affluence.”

In the past, ivory has been used to make piano keys, ornaments and traditional carvings. Today, materials such as plastic, can be made similar to the texture and feel of ivory.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) calculated that nearly half of all organisms identified on Earth are endangered. IUCN reports that the extinction of any species could mean endangering another species, loss of genetic information and destabilizing the ecosystem.

Wasser and colleagues hope to see reinstatement of strong enforcement and educational programs established to teach people in Africa how to better manage their wildlife.

“Elephants are a keystone species and taking them out significantly alters the habitat,” Wasser said.

Reach contributing writer Victoria Lee at development@thedaily.washington.edu.