Efforts to tackle the illegal ivory trade took a surprising turn when trinkets from a Cambodian market turned out to be made from woolly mammoth tusks.

Edinburgh Zoo-based scientists made the unusual discovery as part of a project using genetic analysis in a bid to tackle wildlife crime.

DNA from samples of ivory can be used to identify poaching hotspots, and in their Cambodian work the team identified many samples from Asian and African elephants – species that are being wiped out by hunting and habitat loss.

The woolly mammoth, on the other hand, is not protected as the species was driven to extinction thousands of years ago.

“It was a surprise for us to find trinkets made from woolly mammoth ivory in circulation, especially so early into our testing and in a tropical country like Cambodia,” said Dr Alex Ball, who runs the WildGenes project.

“It is very hard to say what the implications of this finding are for existing elephant populations; however, we plan to continue our research and will use genetics to work out where it has come from.”

The multibillion-pound trade in ivory is responsible for the deaths of up to 30,000 elephants every year, and DNA extracted from illegal shipments has already been used to bring major criminal gang members to justice.

In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history A section of an estimated 105 tonnes of elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers burns in flames at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya - RTX2C949 Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Traditional Maasai tribesmen pose for a photograph near elephant tusks, part of an estimated 105 tonnes of confiscated ivory to be set ablaze, stacked onto a pyre at Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 28, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history A Kenya Wildlife Services ranger guards the burning of an estimated 105 tonnes of Elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Kenya Wildlife Services rangers patrol as they guard the burning of an estimated 105 tonnes of Elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya - RTX2C956 Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history A journalist walks past burning stocks of an estimated 105 tonnes of ivory and a tonne of rhino horn confiscated from smugglers and poachers at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola - RTX2C951 Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Members of the fire brigade control the burning of an estimated 105 tonnes of Elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya - RTX2C950 Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history A Kenya Wildlife Services ranger guards the burning of an estimated 105 tonnes of Elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya - RTX2C94Z Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history A general view shows part of the 105 tonnes of elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers burning at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya - RTX2C94J Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Firefighters monitor the burning of elephant tusks, part of an estimated 105 tonnes of confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers, at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya? - RTX2C94I Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Kenya Wildlife Services rangers guard the burning of an estimated 105 tonnes of Elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya - RTX2C94A Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history A member of the fire brigade shouts as she and other members control the burning of an estimated 105 tonnes of Elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya - RTX2C948 Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history A section of an estimated 105 tonnes of elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers burns in flames at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya - RTX2C947 Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history A section of an estimated 105 tonnes of Elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers burns in flames at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya - RTX2C945 Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Fire burns part of an estimated 105 tonnes of ivory and a tonne of rhino horn confiscated from smugglers and poachers at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola - RTX2C92W Reuters

Tusk DNA can not only reveal important information about individual elephants, it can also be compared to genetic maps of the species to find where it originated.

Dr Ball said ivory sales were on the rise in Cambodia, but there seemed to be no evidence to suggest the nation’s own elephant populations were being poached.

Dr Alex Ball drilling ivory samples as part of the WildGenes project (Royal Zoological Society of Scotland)

“Understanding where the ivory is coming from is vital for enforcement agencies looking to block illegal trade routes,” he said.

“If we can use genetics to identify where elephants are being killed for their ivory, measures can be taken to protect those most at risk of persecution.”

The researchers in Scotland are working with local scientists to establish a conservation genetics laboratory in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.

“We are working with partners in Cambodia to support and train staff, which will enable them to carry out more of this work, which is vital to conservation efforts,” said Dr Bell.

The effort is partly funded by the UK government, and comes after ministers announced last year “one of the world’s toughest bans on ivory sales” to protect elephants.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

Under new rules, only a small selection of items including certain antiques and musical instruments will be allowed to be sold if they contain any ivory.