1.   Elephant ivory is banned in the U.S.

2.   Before elephant ivory was available from Africa, northern Europeans prized walrus tusks, carving them into crosses, buttons, knife handles and saddle pommels.

3.   Contrary to legend, these dentures were not made of wood but from human and cow teeth, and elephant ivory.

4.   After Japan and Norway lost a bid for approval of limited whaling, four southern African countries now face a similar showdown on the sale of elephant ivory.

5.   African countries have requested permission to resume trade in elephant ivory, and Japan wants to be able to buy whale meat from Norway, U.N. officials said Friday.

6.   All the countries surveyed have laws against trade in elephant ivory.

7.   Elephant ivory ready for auction to finance conservation.

8.   Three African governments, lobbying for controlled trade in elephant ivory, have called for a secret vote on the issue at a crucial conservation conference opening Monday.

9.   U.N. agrees to restart trade in elephant ivory.

10.   Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia did not sign the ban and have large stockpiles of elephant ivory they would like to sell.