Winner
Brent Stirton
Getty Images
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"GOD'S IVORY"
SURIN, THAILAND, NOVEMBER 2011: Mr Ramet Yeerum, 34, a master ivory carver displays his work in a small village close to Surin Elephant Village in Surin, Thailand. Mr Yeerum stated that most of his clients are Monks who buy his Ivory carvings of Bhudist icons for resale purposes. He estimates that the vast majority of his business is the carving of these religious pieces. He commented openly on the presence in Thailand of illegally imported African ivory and 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 further offered his services as a carver in Africa if this photographer could get him there. 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.
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