7. Ivory
Ivory, prized for its beauty and workability, was fashioned into art, religious objects, and luxury goods. Ancient African, Asian, and European societies heavily traded elephant ivory, shaping cultures and tragically impacting wildlife. The demand for ivory led to extensive poaching, causing significant declines in elephant populations. In response, international bans on ivory trade have been implemented to protect these majestic animals. (nationalgeographic.org)
