Man Caught Selling Illegal Elephant Hair Jewellery
A 40-year-old man has been sentenced after hawking jewellery made from elephant hair, in a rare crackdown on illegal wildlife trade.
Sentenced for Breaking Endangered Species Laws
Rajtharan Mahalingam, from Isle of Wight, was found guilty at Harrow Crown Court on November 24 of seven offences related to the sale and purchase of products containing endangered elephant hair. The charges fell under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations 1997.
His sentence included:
- 32 weeks in prison, suspended for 16 months
- Confiscation of all jewellery containing elephant hair
- 200 hours unpaid community work
- £200 fine
- £1,500 court costs plus a £140 surcharge
Undercover Sting Uncovers Illegal Imports
The Met’s Wildlife Crime Unit launched an investigation in 2017 after spotting online listings from a Wembley jewellery shop advertising items with elephant hair. Checks revealed the jewellery was illegally imported with no permits to sell or use elephant-derived specimens.
A raid on the shop in May 2018 seized a large stash of the banned jewellery. Forensic tests confirmed the hair belonged to both African and Asian elephants. Mahalingam was arrested and formally charged nearly two years later.
Wildlife Officer Warns of Poaching Links
Detective Constable Sarah Bailey of the Wildlife Crime Unit said: “There are legal requirements in relation to the import, sale and commercial use of specimens derived from protected / endangered species and these had not been complied with.
“African and Asian elephants continue to be poached and it is worrying that the derivatives of such activity may appear for sale in London.”
This case highlights the ongoing threat posed by illegal wildlife products and the tough crackdowns needed to protect endangered species.
