What are elephant tusks made of?

Elephant tusks are made of ivory, a hard material composed mainly of dentin.

Tusks are actually elongated upper incisor teeth, not horns or bones. Dentin is a mineralised tissue built from collagen fibres and hydroxyapatite, giving ivory a combination of strength, hardness, and toughness. A young tusk begins with a thin enamel covering, but that enamel soon wears away as the tusk grows and is used.

Tusks serve several purposes. Elephants use them to dig for water and minerals, strip bark from trees, move objects, defend themselves, and compete with rivals. Because tusks continue growing throughout life, their size and wear can provide clues about an elephant’s age and history.

Ivory has long been carved into ornaments and practical objects, but demand for elephant tusks drove severe poaching. International trade restrictions, including protections under CITES, were introduced to reduce that threat. Ivory can also be made synthetically, while tagua nuts are sometimes called “vegetable ivory” because they can be carved in a similar way.