From 1840 to 1940 over 2,800,000 elephants were killed to supply the ivory industry in Connecticut. Mature male elephants, having the larger tusks, were the first to be killed. Without the survival and protection they provided in the herds, the elephant population plummeted. Harvesting the tusks involved cutting them out of the elephant. Sometimes the hunters would kill the elephant first, and sometimes they would cut the tusks out of the elephant alive. About a third of an elephant's tusk is internal, so its removal was gruesome. Four men were needed to carry each tusk from the interior to the port city. The journey was so treacherous that by its end three of the men died. The fourth was sold into slavery again. About 12,000,000 men died transporting the tusks that were exported to Connecticut. The ivory was used to manufacture "luxury goods:" billiard balls, dominoes, combs, spatulas, letter openers, buttons, ornaments, jewelry, and veneers for piano keys. Why should we remember the elephants and enslaved people? Not to remember them is to give our permission for that kind of tragedy to continue or to be repeated. One way to remember and to honor the victims of the ivory industry is do something kind for someone who is not expecting such kindness. Gary Comstock From 1840 to 1940 over 2,800,000 elephants were killed to supply the ivory industry in Connecticut . Mature male elephants , having the larger tusks , were the first to be killed . Without the survival and protection they provided in the herds , the elephant population plummeted . Harvesting the tusks involved cutting them out of the elephant . Sometimes the hunters would kill the elephant first , and sometimes they would cut the tusks out of the elephant alive . About a third of an elephant's tusk is internal , so its removal was gruesome . Four men were needed to carry each tusk from the interior to the port city . The journey was so treacherous that by its end three of the men died . The fourth was sold into slavery again . About 12,000,000 men died transporting the tusks that were exported to Connecticut . The ivory was used to manufacture " luxury goods : " billiard balls , dominoes , combs , spatulas , letter openers , buttons , ornaments , jewelry , and veneers for piano keys . Why should we remember the elephants and enslaved people ? Not to remember them is to give our permission for that kind of tragedy to continue or to be repeated . One way to remember and to honor the victims of the ivory industry is do something kind for someone who is not expecting such kindness . Gary Comstock