SANParks sales of Ivory, read here:
Kruger Elephant Management Plan
4.2.4.1 Sale of Ivory
Standard operating procedure. Any interested party wishing to purchase ivory from
SANParks is required to send their written application or an “offer to purchase”, along
with all the relevant contact and purchase details, to the Managing Executive, Kruger
National Park for perusal and submission to the Manager, Game Processing Plant,
Skukuza for further handling. Once a written application or “offer to purchase” has been
received by the Manager, Game Processing Plant from the Managing Executive, the
Manager Game Processing Plant must ensure that all the interested party‟s personal
details (ID number, full names and address) as well as the specifications of the ivory
(e.g. 5kg complete tusk, or a piece less than 1kg) have been recorded. As soon as the
personal details are obtained, these should be sent to the Head Corporate Investigation
Services for verification. Should any inconsistencies be found or queries needing further
attention the request will be placed on hold pending the outcome of the verification
process. During this phase of the request no agreement will be discussed, entered into
or financial value of the ivory discussed with the interested party.
After the verification process has been completed and a recommendation to continue
with the process has been received from Corporate Investigation Services, the Game
Processing Plant Manager will complete an official “Request for authorization form”. This
form will include the interested party‟s personal details along with his financial offer and
ivory specifications. The “Request for authorization” form should then be forwarded to
the Head of Department Conservation Services, Kruger National Park for perusal and
recommendation. The authorization request should then be sent to the Managing
Executive, Kruger National Park for perusal and recommendation prior to the document
being forwarded on to the Chief Executive of SANParks for final approval of sale.
Invoicing and Payment. After final approval has been granted by the Chief Executive,
SANParks, an official SANParks tax invoice, with all relevant details, will be handed over
or sent to the purchaser for payment. All moneys derived from ivory sale must be paid
into the specific SANParks Special Project account. A SANParks tax invoice will be
completed with all the relevant details relating to the purchaser and the ivory being
purchased. Confirmation of payment will take place twice. Once through the proof of
payment deposit slip made by the interested party and the second confirmation will be
from Head Office once the funds show in the Special Projects account.
Permits. As soon a confirmation of payment has been received from the purchaser, an
application for the necessary Permits can proceed. If the purchaser‟s residential address
is anywhere other than in the Mpumalanga Province, Export Permits out of the Province
and or transport permits for the respective province/s through which the buyer needs to
travel should be requested from the respective offices or Mpumalanga Tourism and
Parks Board by the purchaser. The relevant Veterinary Permit will be obtained for any
animal product leaving the park boundaries. This permit is obtained from the State
Veterinary Services Department within the Kruger National Park. Note that international
visitors may not purchase ivory in which case CITES rules apply.
A “Controlled Item” permit must also be obtained from the Kruger National Park
Protection Services department before the ivory can be removed from the Kruger
National Park. An official “Ownership Letter” must be obtained from the Kruger National
Park Managing Executive‟s office. This letter will confirm the purchasers details and the
CITES requirements for the ivory. A form will be drawn up for the “confirmation of
receipt” of ivory.
Collection of ivory. The purchaser must make prior arrangements for the collection of
ivory. The collection of ivory will be carried out at the Game Processing Plant warehouse
in Skukuza. During this collection process, the purchaser will supply his vehicle
registration number in the entry control book at the warehouse. The purchaser will
receive the original invoice, ownership letter and permits. The new owner will then sign
the confirmation of receipt of ivory form, for SANParks record purposes.
Should the owner send a representative to collect the ivory on his/her behalf, that
person must have a permission letter from the owner stating the collectors name and ID
number ( all procedures will apply to the collector of the ivory).
In the case whereby ivory must be sent to the purchaser via the South African Postal
service, the parcel will include the “proof of receipt” of ivory along with all the relevant
documentation as describe. The Proof of Receipt form must be signed by the owner and
faxed or posted to the office of the Game Processing Plant manager for filing.
Administration. The office of the Game Processing Plant manager will keep copies of all
the documentation as well as hard copies of any email correspondence and a copy of
the purchaser‟s identity document. Each new owner or interested party‟s details will be
recorded and kept on file. The Manager: Game Processing Plant will ensure that an
entry is made in the appropriate Ivory Register relating to the sale of the ivory and cross
referencing to the appropriate invoice number and client record.
Security. Upon exiting the park, the security personnel must carry out a verification
process of the ivory. The permits must be verified with the actual CITES numbers on the
tusks or pieces of ivory. Those numbers must be recorded in the “Incident report” book.
Security staff must phone the Game Processing Plant manager to confirm the ivory
leaving the park. The purchaser must not be allowed to leave the park unless the
process as describe has been confirmed.
