In Belarus, Man Took 20 Mammoth Tusks For Restoration And Refused To Return Them
Reform.news Editorial Team · 22 September 2026, 15:21
https://reform.news/en/in-belarus-man-took-20-mammoth-tusks-for-restoration-and-refused-to-return-them/A forensic examination helped return mammoth tusks to their owner following a dispute with a restorer. As the press service of the State Forensic Examination Committee of Belarus reported, in February 2026, a man agreed via a messenger to have 20 mammoth tusks restored and handed them over to a specialist. Before sending them, the owner photographed each tusk and applied the corresponding markings to the photographs.
A conflict later arose between the customer and the restorer. The owner demanded that the property be returned, but the restorer said that the tusks in his possession did not match those shown in the photographs and refused to return them.
An inquiry was launched into possible theft of funds under the guise of carrying out restoration work, as well as the batch of mammoth tusks. A forensic photographic and technical examination was ordered to establish the circumstances.
Experts from the State Forensic Examination Committee conducted a comparative analysis of photographs that the customer had previously sent to the restorer via messenger and the tusks seized from the restorer. They identified persistent individual matching features and concluded that the photographs and the reference samples showed the same tusks.
An inquiry into the matter is ongoing, and the issue of holding those responsible to account is being considered.
