Elephant Pearls Seized in $3.38M Wildlife Bust

Wildlife officials in Sri Lanka recently conducted a successful sting operation, apprehending a suspect attempting to sell a large collection of elephant pearls. The seized items were valued at an estimated 300 million Sri Lankan rupees, exceeding $3.38 million, and represented what was described as the largest single haul of such items in the country.

The operation, which involved multiple wildlife departments, also uncovered a wider array of illegally traded wildlife products. These included leopard skin and oil, elephant tusks, animal traps, and protected plant species like Karuwala wood and the Damba plant, highlighting the extensive nature of the illicit trade.

This incident underscores the persistent global issue of wildlife trafficking. While elephant pearls are not genuine gems, their perceived medicinal and luck-granting properties fuel their demand, contributing to the broader problem of elephant poaching for ivory and other animal products.