Winner
Brent Stirton
Getty Images
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"GOD'S IVORY"
SURIN, THAILAND, NOVEMBER 2011: Luang Poo Bru Ba Dhammamunee, head abbot of Wat Suan Paa Phutthasatharn Supraditme thee Temple, photographed in Surin Elephant Village in Surin, Thailand, November 9th, 2011. The monk buys his Ivory carvings of Bhudist icons for resale purposes to his followers. He commented openly on the presence in Thailand of illegally imported African ivory and advised on how to get it into Thailand past customs authorities. He also spoke of how senior memember of the Thai parliment are behind the illegal industry. He spoke enthusiastically of business opportunities if this photographer could get him illegal African ivory, despite his public relations campaign as a carer of elephant in Thailand. The Thai legal system has many loopholes as a result of the domestic ivory situation and Thailand is suspected of being a major transit country for illegal African ivory as a result. The sale of religious ivory icons is a big part of the domestic trade while illegal ivory and elephant goods from both Thailand and Africa regularly make their way to China.
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