Russian smuggled Mammoth tusk haul seized by Chinese customs

[Sunlei]

State media are reporting that the massive haul came from Russia and was seized in north-east China in February. The largest piece of mammoth ivory seized was more than 1.6m (5ft) long, a customs officer was quoted as saying.

There is no international ban on the trade but Chinese officials said the haul was not declared.

The stockpile is part of a booming trade between Russia and China in ivory taken from the skeletons of mammoths found in the Siberian tundra. The effects of global warming in the Arctic has made it easier to collect tusks preserved in ice for thousands of years, researchers say. More than 100 woolly mammoth tusks were seized at the port of Luobei in Heilongjiang province, in addition to 37 woolly rhino horn parts and more than a tonne of jade. They were hidden in concealed compartments in a truck, according to reports.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-39583877

not just the permafrost full of bones, fishermen can dredge the seas around 'Beringa' and every dredge brings up tons of Ice age animal bones. North America/Beringa/Russia must have really been something to see with massive herds of mammoth, horses and even humans migrating to follow those herds.

[d_r]

1. that's a combination of amazing, awesome, and tragic and sad