Toss the Tusk

Saturday August 15th 3pm to 7pm at Oakland Zoo's Snow Building

Sunday August 16th 2pm to 6pm at CuriOdyssey's entrance round-about

These events are drop off only. No reservations are required. Zoo admissions and parking for Coyote Point Recreational Area are not included.

Do you own an item made from exotic animals? Maybe you inherited it from a family member, or you got it as a souvenir on a trip years ago. You have it but don't know what to do with it and want to get rid of it? Join us in Taking Action to mitigate the illegal wildlife trade by bringing your souvenirs, clothing and decorative items made from wildlife products to Oakland Zoo.

Oakland Zoo works with wardens from California Department of Fish to receive these unwanted items that might be illegal to sell.

African elephants are known for their iconic, long tusks made of ivory. Ivory is a calcified tissue that forms the teeth and tusks and is found in other large mammals such as hippopotamuses, walruses, narwhals, sperm whales and even extinct woolly mammoths. To make ornate ivory art and jewelry, these animals must be killed so their teeth, tusks or horns can be removed and carved.

It is not illegal to own ivory; people often inherit these items. AS of 2016, when California AB 96 passed, it became illegal to possess any of these forms of ivory with intent to sell it, even if it was antique ivory or legally acquired initially.

Ivory from poached and endangered animals is still being imported into the U.S., including California, because unfortunately demand remains high. By relinquishing these unwanted items at a "Toss the Tusk" event, you help ensure they won't be around to drive the demand or enter the black market in the future.

We accept any wildlife-based items containing ivory (tusks), horns, bones, exotic furs, turtle shells, reptilian skins, exotic feathers, and corals. These animal products can appear as jewelry, souvenirs, hair accessories, fashion accessories (purses, belts, clothing), carvings, instruments, and more.

Relinquished items are used by State and Government agencies for training wildlife enforcement and K9 units, DNA sequencing and geolocating, and for their reference database, to help prevent future wildlife crimes.

Email conservation@oaklandzoo.org if you have questions about relinquishing an item.

We ask that you hold onto any items that are larger than a loaf of bread until we have another event at the zoo, where we can receive these larger items.

“Because the demand for ivory products is driving elephants toward extinction, consumers hold the key to ending the scourge of wildlife trafficking. By putting our actions in line with our values, we can work together to protect elephants and other treasured species for the benefit of our planet, our security, and future generations.”  -Dan Ashe, President, and CEO of, Association of Zoos & Aquariums.