IVORY'S GHOSTS The White Gold of History and the Fate of Elephants

David Colacci's smooth tone somewhat blunts the impact of this story of greed, inhumanity, and slaughter. Until the 1980s tons of ivory were taken out of Africa to feed the world's desire for piano keys, knife handles, and jewelry. The ivory trade dovetailed nicely with the slave trade and with various countries' culling projects; millions of elephants were killed and their tusks carried out by forced labor. Colacci brings listeners the voices of both traders and conservationists—with quotes set off nicely by pauses. He also mirrors the author's neutral approach to the controversy—equally representing both those who want to reopen ivory sales and those who are dead set against it. In the end, compromise may allow limited sales, with profits benefiting the animals. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]