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Permafrost Profits: The Boom of Mammoth Tusk Mining in Siberia
Black markets, ethical ivory, permafrost, and poaching
Siberia stretches for over five million square miles and makes up a large chunk of Russia’s landmass. It is one of the most sparsely populated places in the world and is home to less than three people per square kilometer. The remoteness of the region, coupled with the large swaths of untouched wilderness, make it the perfect place for intrepid people to hunt for an unlikely resource — mammoth tusks.
Siberia is made up of thousands of miles of permafrost. Permafrost is soil that is permanently frozen. However, as the northern latitudes of the planet start to warm, the permafrost has thawed and become softer. Underneath lies a massive well of untapped potential. Old bones, fossilized plants, and the remains of giant wooly mammoths have been preserved in the frozen soil of Siberia and have become a large source of income for small groups of people looking to cash in on the unique situation.
But how exactly do people mine for mammoth tusks? How much do mammoth tusks sell for? Where are they being sold? These are fascinating questions that will illuminate one of the world’s most interesting and shady businesses.
