Emerald Jewelry Auction to Help Elephant Migration in India

(IDEX Online News) — Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace hotel witnessed an auction last Friday, of a collection of exclusive elephant-theme emerald jewelry. The jewelry was created for the Emeralds for Elephants initiative sponsored by emerald mining group Gemfields.

The auction raised $750,000, of which $150,000 will go to the World Land Trust and the Wildlife Trust of India’s conservation projects in India. The two organizations have been working on creating a network of wildlife corridors that will allow elephants to follow their regular migratory routes while minimizing human-elephant contact and conflict.

Wildlife broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, who is a patron of World Land Trust, offered his support, observing, “I have been immensely lucky in that my professional work has taken me to all corners of the world where I have been able to see first-hand some of the rarest and most spectacular wildlife on earth.

However, the fate of these creatures, which share our planet, lies entirely in the hands of mankind – it is within our power to protect them or watch them become extinct. Let us choose the first route.”

Gemfields CEO Ian Harebottle stated, “We are thrilled with the results of the auction, especially as this is the first time that auction of this kind has been held in India. We are honored to have worked with so many great partners on this project, including Indian’s top jewelers and retailers.

The initiative is co-sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover, the Gemological Institute of America (India) and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotels and Resorts. Sotheby’s provided the auctioneer.