Email us at info@polarexotics.com or call 1.800.206.6544 or +1.416.232.0376

Ordering Information

How to Order:

We do not have a shopping cart because our products may be heavily regulated, require export paperwork, or require other processing before they can be shipped. If you are interested in buying our products, please order by phone, fax, or email.

Email: info@polarexotics.com

Phone: 1.800.206.6544 or +1.416.232.0376

Fax: +1.416.232.2297

We do not deal in the U.S. and do not respond to U.S. inquiries.

 

Terms & Conditions

Please also read our Terms and Conditions before ordering.

 

Ordering CITES Items

Marine mammals, such as narwhal and walrus, are subject to CITES import/export controls and can only be shipped to countries where trade is permitted.

Contents:

What is CITES?

CITES is the abbreviation for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.  Nearly all countries belong to CITES (holdouts include places like North Korea).  The goal of CITES is to regulate the trade in species that are under threat somewhere in the world.  The commercial trade in some animals or products made from those animals is completely prohibited (e.g., pandas and tigers).  Others are permitted, but the trade is monitored (most items covered under CITES), and a few are listed by one or more countries that want to monitor trade in a specific animal or product (e.g., crested porcupines in Ghana or abalone in South Africa).  All marine mammals are regulated by CITES--even if they are not considered endangered.  See the official CITES website at www.cites.org for more information.

Narwhal are listed under Appendix II. Walrus are listed under Appendix III.

International Sales

Here is the process we follow for all international orders:

1. Confirm the sale:

  • You check with the CITES Management Authority in your country to ensure that you can legally import the product.  You can usually find them by entering the phrase CITES MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY into Google or let us know and we will send you the contact information for your country from the CITES website (www.cites.org). See the section for National Contacts and Information on the left of the CITES home page. Select your country from the list that comes up.

    We agree on the item(s) you want by order code and price.  We update this website nearly every business day.  If it is not marked sold or sale pending, it is most likely available for sale.

2.  Pay in full to reserve the item(s):

  • We prepare a pro-forma invoice for you to review.  We will send this to you by e-mail or fax it as desired.

  • You pay the total balance due onthe inovice to reserve the item(s).  We accept payment by wire transfer. We will only refund your money if we cannot get the Canadian CITES export permit or if you have applied for and cannot get the CITES import permit in your country.

3. CITES and other documents:

  • Export orders will be subject to a non-refundable fee of C$367.50 to get the CITES permits.

  • For international exports, we will thoroughly clean and disinfect the item(s) and get a veterinary certificate from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency prior to shipping.  There is a non-refundable fee of C$367.50 per shipment to get a veterinary certificate.  We view the veterinary certificate as a mandatory option.  We do not build the cost of the veterinary certificate into the price of our products because many customers buy multiple items and the cost of the veterinary certificate is a cost per shipment, not per item.  We highly recommend that you contact the appropriate authorities in your country to find out if there are any import conditions first.  If the import conditions are not known, we will get a standard veterinary certificate with the statements of treatment i.e., how we cleaned and disinfected the item(s). If our CITES export permit expires before we can ship due to your delay in getting a CITES import permit, we will have to return the unused veterinary certificate. We will charge an additional non-refundable fee to get a replacement veterinary certificate.
  • We fill out the Canadian CITES application and obtain the CITES export permit from Fisheries & Oceans in Canada.  The CITES export permit is generally valid for export from Canada for six months from the time of issue.  All of the products we list on this website that we state are exportable are eligible for a CITES export permit.  If the shipment is not shipped prior to the expiration date on the export permit, we must return the permit to Fisheries & Oceans to be cancelled and apply for a replacement CITES export permit.  The replacement CITES export permit will have a new permit number which means you may or may not have to get an amended CITES import permit. We will charge another non-refundable fee to get a replacement CITES export permit.

  • We will e-mail a copy of the CITES export permit to you so you can apply for a CITES import permit if required by your country. Most countries require an import permit.

  • If a corresponding import permit is required by your country (typically the case in the European Union), you obtain a CITES import permit from the "CITES Management Authority" in your country.

  • You send a copy of the CITES import permit to us by e-mail or fax.

We can get a certificate of origin for a non-refundable fee of C$78.75 per shipment. Not all countries require a certificate of origin so we will only get it if you request it.

Important: If you do not provide us with a copy of your CITES import permit, or written proof that you have applied for the import permit and was denied by your country's CITES Management Authority, before the CITES export permit expired, we will consider you to have abandoned your order. If you fail to notify us in writing within 60 days after the expiry date on CITES export permit, we will put the item(s) you ordered back up for sale. If you notify us in writing within 60 days after the expiry date on CITES export permit that you would still like to continue with the order, we will apply for a replacement CITES export permit and get another veterinary certificate and charge the applicable non-refundable fees. After we get the new CITES export permit, we will have another six months to ship.

4.  Shipping:

  • Once we have all the CITES permits and veterinary certificate, we will pack up the item(s) and have our freight forwarder in Toronto ship it to you by air freight collect.  The freight forwarder or their agent in your country will notify you with the freight arrangments and costs. You will pay the shipping costs to teh freight forwarder directly. It normally takes our forwarder two business days to pick up the package from our office, submit the paperwork, and deliver the shipment to the airline.  Most direct flights to Europe arrive the next day, but you may experience delays in clearing the tusk while you arrange a broker or for the CITES authorities to inspect the item(s).

  • You have a customs broker clear the shipment through customs and take delivery.  Please allow up to one week on your end for customs clearance. 

Sales within Ontario

No additional paperwork or documentation is required for the sales and shipping delivered within Ontario.  HST is applicable for all sales within Ontario.  All sales within Ontario will have the following statement on the invoice:  

Not for export from Ontario without proper transportation permit from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and/or CITES.

A copy of the original MMTL issued to bring the item(s) into Ontario is not required to be provided by Chichester Canada, Inc. to the customer buying the item(s) in Canada.  We will put the MMTL number issued to bring the item(s) into Ontario on the invoice for reference should any questions arise from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Sales within Canada

An inter-provincial marine mammal transportation permit (MMTL) is required to ship from Ontario to other provinces or territories (even if picked up at our office in Toronto).  HST/GST will be charged on all shipments within Canada.  Payment in full is required prior to us getting the MMTL.  The MMTL is generally valid for 30 days from the time of issue.  We charge a non-refundable fee of C$194.25 to get the MMTL.

A copy of the original MMTL issued to bring the item(s) into Ontario is not required to be provided by Chichester Canada, Inc. to the customer buying the item(s) in Canada.  We will put the MMTL number issued to bring the item(s) into Ontario on the invoice for reference should any questions arise from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

In theory, an officer from Fisheries and Oceans can issue a verbal or oral authorization to transport from one province to another (per conversation with Jacob Barkley, 100112).  In practice it is best to apply for and receive a transportation permit from Fisheries and Oceans to have a paper trail for both the buyer and seller. We obtain this permit from Fisheries & Oceans in Burlington, Ontario. An officer must come and inspect the item(s) before issuing the permit. Please allow one to two business weeks for us to schedule an appointment with a fisheries officer to get this permit.

Export Controls from Canada

Marine mammals such as narwhal and walrus are subject to CITES import/export controls. Narwhal are listed under Appendix II and walrus are listed under Appendix III.  The Department of Fisheries & Oceans issues all export permits for narwhal and walrus products.  It usually takes 4 to 6 weeks to obtain a CITES export permit, but could take longer depending upon their work load.

Import Controls for Narwhal in Your Country

The following summary is included as a quick guide to import controls to the best of our knowledge.   You must check with your CITES authorities to determine the laws in force at the time of obtaining an import permit.

As far as we know, we CAN ship narwhal tusks to the following countries:

Shipments to most Asian, Latin American, and African countries are generally permitted with proper CITES documentation.

Shipments to Belgium are allowed for personal use with the proper CITES documentation. You can apply for the CITES import permit here: www.citesinbelgium.be.  This information was last updated in August 2017.

Shipments to Bermuda are permitted with just a CITES export permit from Canada.  No corresponding import permit is required prior to import.  The authorities were prompt in answering questions about importing the tusks.  This information was last reviewed in January 2013.

Shipments to Chile are permitted with just a CITES export permit from Canada. No corresponding import permit is required prior to import. The tusks must be free of orgaic remains i.e. completely clean. Send a scanned copy of the Canadian CITES export permit to the Servicio Nacional de Pesca (National Fishery Service) to register the buyer and inform Customs. This information was last reviewed in July 2018.

Shipments to China are permitted with a corresponding CITES import permit issued prior to importation.  The authorities were prompt in answering questions about importing the tusks.  We can recommend an agent from Beijing, China that some of our customers have used in the past to import narwhal tusks.  This information was last reviewed in October 2014.

Commercial shipments to the European Union are becoming increasingly restrictive.  Personal shipments are generally permitted.  The address and phone number must be for the residence of the buyer. We cannot ship to any commercial address. As of March 2009 the European Union has started issuing permits on a case-by-case basis.  If all the paperwork is in order prior to shipping, you should not have any problem obtaining an import permit.  To save time and effort, please check with your CITES officials before ordering from us.  It is illegal for someone in the European Union to own a narwhal tusk harvested within the territory of the European Union.  Please see Article 2 under Council Directive 92/43/EEC.  This information was last reviewed in February 2014.

Shipments to France are generally permitted with proper CITES documentation. Please note that a condition on a tusk sold to France in July 2009 stated "specimen interdit a la vente."  The tusk may be imported into France for personal use, but not for resale.  This information was last reviewed in June 2012.

Shipments to Hong Kong are permitted with a CITES export permit from Canada.  No corresponding import permit is required prior to import. This information was last reviewed on September 2020.

Shipments to Iceland are generally permitted with proper CITES documentation.  This information was last reviewed in August 2008. 

Shipments to Italy are generally permitted with a corresponding CITES import permit issued prior to importation.  Imports for personal purpose is allowed.  Commercial imports are prohibited.  Listed under EU Listing Annex A which corresponds to Appendix I.  This information was last reviewed April 2015.

Shipments to Japan are permitted with proper CITES documentation.  Japan does not require a CITES import permit.  This information was last reviewed September 2019.

Shipments to Jordan are permitted with proper CITES documentation.  Jordan does not require a CITES import permit.  This information was last reviewed November 2015.

Shipments to New Zealand are permitted and only require the original Canadian export permit for CITES Appendix II species--to which narwhal belong.  No corresponding import permit is required.  We can supply contact information for CITES officers in New Zealand for customers to verify this information.  This information was last reviewed in October 2012.

Shipments to Norway are generally permitted with proper CITES documentation.  This information was last reviewed in August 2008. 

Shipments to Saudi Arabia are generally permitted with proper CITES export and import permits. This information was last reviewed in December 2017.

Shipments to Singapore for personal and commercial use are generally permitted with proper CITES export and import permits and a veterinary certificate. This information was last reviewed in June 2014.

Shipments to South Africa for personal and commercial use are permitted with proper CITES documentation. This information was last reviewed in October 2015.

Shipments to Sweden for personal use are generally permitted with proper CITES documentation. This information was last reviewed in June 2013.

Shipments to Switzerland are generally permitted with proper CITES documentation.  This information was last reviewed in August 2008.  Switzerland has generally restricted imports of tusks for personal use only--not for resale.

Shipments to Turkey are permitted by the Turkish authorities. We are not sure whether imports of commercial tusks are permitted. The tusks we have exported have been for personal use.  On February 2012, a narwhal tusk was held by customs due to a recent law change because it did not have a veterinary health certificate.  All narwhal tusks now require a Canadian veterinary health certificate.  Presently, Turkish authorities have been non-responsive to our request for more information about the required wording on the health certificate.  We can only get a health certificate from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency specifying that the narwhal tusks are cleaned and are free of meat and blood.  Therefore, you may import narwhal tusks AT YOUR OWN RISK with this certificate.  We recommend that you contact Turkish authorities to find out the exact wording required on the health certificate. This information was last reviewed in April 2012.

Shipments to Thailand are permitted with proper CITES export and import permits. This information was last reviewed in October 2014.

Shipments to Ukraine are permitted without an import permit. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine wrote that "As narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is in CITES Appendix II it is not necessary for a customer in Ukraine to apply for a CITES import permit."  This information was last reviewed in February 2012.

Shipments to Vietnam are generally permitted with a corresponding CITES import permit issued prior to importation. This information was last reviewed in August 2023. 

We CANNOT ship narwhal tusks to the following countries:

As of January 25, 2007, Australia has imposed stricter trade regulations on all Cetacea (all whales, porpoises and dolphins) than are in effect with CITES.  All species of the order Cetacea included in Appendix II of CITES are treated as if they are in Appendix I of CITES.  Consequently, we cannot export to Australia and you cannot import narwhal tusks unless they are pre-convention tusks (before 1975).  Appendix I items may only be shipped for scientific study, zoos, etc. This information was last reviewed on March 2018.

We will no longer send shipments to Germany. Updated May 2022.

No exports of marine mammal products are allowed to Mexico as stated in Article 55: "Artículo 55 bis.- Queda prohibida la importación, exportación y reexportación de ejemplares de cualquier especie de mamífero marino y primate, así como de sus partes y derivados, con excepción de aquéllos destinados a la investigación científica, y las muestras de líquidos, tejidos o células reproductivas de aquellos ejemplares que se encuentren en cautiverio, previa autorización de la Secretaría.” This information was last reviewed in April 2012.

The Netherlands is not issuing CITES import permits for narwhal tusks that come from wild populations.  This information was last reviewed in December 2017.

No shipments to the United Kingdom are permitted because of restrictions imposed by those countries.

No shipments to the United States are permitted because of restrictions imposed by the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.  We will not sell tusks in Ontario to U.S. residents if we believe they intend to smuggle them back into the U.S.  Canada Customs and the U.S. Customs Service treat any violation seriously.  Expect to have your car confiscated and spend 10 years in jail.  Don't even think about trying to smuggle a tusk back to the U.S. because you think it would look cool in your house.  Don't even ask us about how we can help you get a tusk into the U.S. as we are not keen on being treated as accessories to a crime. No marine mammal items may transit the United States.  For example, a tusk going from Canada to New Zealand must be shipped through Vancouver, not Los Angeles.  The U.S. government has been known to seize tusks that are in transit through the U.S.

PLEASE NOTE: The Canadian CITES authorities make the following statement on letters to us accompanying the permit:  "Although your shipment meets Canadian CITES export requirements, please be advised that some countries have enacted additional legislation that is more stringent than that of CITES.  It is your responsibility to ensure that the importing and export requirements of the (country) have been met.  Failure to do so may result in seizure of your shipment."

If you fail to ensure that you can legally import narwhal products, we will not be responsible for the seizure of any shipment.  Please make appropriate inquires with your authorities prior to ordering from us.  This is not an impulse purchase.

For more information on import regulations in your country, please check with your CITES Management Authority.  Just search in google with this phrase or an appropriate translation to find the people you need to talk with.

Import Controls for Walrus in Your Country

As far as we know, we CAN ship walrus items to the following countries:

Shipments to most Asian, Latin American, and African countries are permitted with proper CITES documentation.

Shipments to Australia is allowed with CITES export and import permits for commercial and personal purposes. Last reviewed in April 2023.

Shipments to Belgium are allowed with proper CITES permits. Last reviewed in June 2017.

Personal shipments to the European Union are generally permitted.  The species Odobenus rosmarus (walrus) is included in appendix III CITES and in annex B of the EU-Regulation 338/97 (CITES is implemented in the European Union with the Regulation mentioned.) Commercial imports into the EU are possible with the appropriate CITES export and import permits and commercial addresses can be declared on the permits.  To save time and effort, please check with your CITES officials before ordering from us. This information was last reviewed in August 2013.

Shipments to Norway are permitted with proper CITES documentation.

Shipments to Switzerland are permitted with proper CITES documentation.

Shipments to the United Kingdom is permitted with proper CITE permits. If the purchase is made in Canada and is carried back to the U.K. as personal luggage, the owner will be required to present Canadian CITES export permits to U.K. customs upon entry. If the purchase is to be shipped from Canada to the U.K. then CITES export and import permits are required. Applications for CITES import permits in the U.K. can take up to 15 working days and the fee is £67. Applications can be found here:  www.gov.uk/guidance/cites-imports-and-exports. U.K. customs tariffs may apply so please check with HM Revenue and Customs. This information was last reviewed in October 2015.

Shipments to Vietnam are generally permitted with a corresponding CITES import permit issued prior to importation. This information was last reviewed in April 2013. 

We CANNOT ship walrus items to the following countries:

Shipments to Mexico are prohibited. The following is the response from the CITES Management Authority in Mexico:
En atención a su comunicado, respecto a la importación de productos de morsa Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus, especie de mamífero marino listada en el apéndice III de la Convención CITES.
Al respecto le comento que la Ley General de Vida Silvestre prohíbe la importación de los mamíferos marinos, tal y como lo establece el artículo 55 bis, que a continuación se transcribe:
Artículo 55 bis.- Queda prohibida la importación, exportación y reexportación de ejemplares de cualquier especie de mamífero marino y primate, así como de sus partes y derivados, con excepción de aquéllos destinados a la investigación científica, y las muestras de líquidos, tejidos o células reproductivas de aquellos ejemplares que se encuentren en cautiverio, previa autorización de la Secretaría.
Por lo anterior, le informo que la importación de los productos de su interés se encuentra prohibida.
This information was last reviewed in August 2013.

We will no longer send shipments to Germany. Updated May 2022.

No shipments to the United States are permitted because of restrictions imposed by the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.  We will not sell tusks in Ontario to U.S. residents if we believe they intend to smuggle them back into the U.S.

PLEASE NOTE: The Canadian CITES authorities make the following statement on letters to us accompanying the permit:  "Although your shipment meets Canadian CITES export requirements, please be advised that some countries have enacted additional legislation that is more stringent than that of CITES.  It is your responsibility to ensure that the importing and export requirements of the (country) have been met.  Failure to do so may result in seizure of your shipment."

If you fail to ensure that you can legally import walrus products, we will not be responsible for the seizure of any shipment.  Please make appropriate inquires with your authorities prior to ordering from us.  This is not an impulse purchase.

For more information on import regulations in your country, please check with your CITES Management Authority.  Just search in google with this phrase or an appropriate translation to find the people you need to talk with.

Shipping

Tusks are shipped in heavy PVC tubing to avoid breakage.  We place cardboard or some other material on the tube to keep it from rolling and falling off a truck or table. We rub the tusk down with VaselineTM or mineral oil and then pack the tube with styrofoam peanuts or bubble wrap as appropriate.  When the tusk arrives, you can use paper towels or rags to wipe the tusk clean. 

Other items like skulls, teeth, and bones, can be packed in corrugated cardboard boxes with sufficient packing materials to ensure adequate protection in transit.

Make sure to keep all the original permits (MMTL and CITES) and tags in case you ever want to resell or ship these items internationally--this is your proof that these items were legally acquired.  In Canada, the marine mammal tag must remain attached to narwhal tusk at all times.

Shipping is by Freight Collect using our Freight Forwarder

All shipments are sent FREIGHT COLLECT, i.e., you pay the shipping costs, using our freight forwarder.  The permits must be stamped by Canada Customs prior to leaving the country in order to be valid.  Our forwarder insures that this is done properly both leaving Canada and entering the destination country.  The freight forwarder we use is a specialist in the fur industry and is probably the most reliable shipper in Canada.  Individuals cannot take these CITES items with them as baggage on an airplane.

Why we do not use UPS, FedEx, DHL, or EMS for International Shipments

Restricted Nature of the Merchandise

Marine Mammal products and other CITES articles are highly regulated items that require special handling that many courier companies are not set up to undertake.  We use a freight forwarder that specializes in fur and animal products and knows how to deal with the regulations. 

Many courier companies, such as UPS, FedEx, DHL, and postal systems will not accept CITES items because of the complexity and fines they may incur for not following strict rules.  Even if we wanted to ship with them, they simply will not touch the goods. 

Most airlines will not take these shipments as they consider them trophies.

Routing Issues

Most courier companies use distribution centers that may result in the shipment entering a jurisdiction that bans the sales of these items and can result in the merchandise being seized.  For example, if we were to ship a narwhal tusk from Toronto to Munich, a courier company might route this through Memphis or London where the shipment can be seized.  We typically ship on a direct flight to the destination country or on a connecting flight that does not transit through countries that do not permit the trade in these products.

We often must ship to designated ports in the recipient country because of customs regulations in that country.

Costs

The costs for handling specialized freight are high.  It typically costs at least US$500 for a shipment to Europe and more to other destinations, such as Hong Kong.  Most of the charges are minimums.  You will pay the same for a one foot tusk as for a 9-foot one.  You may think it unreasonable and we understand this.  There is no way around this.  We recommend either not buying a tusk or buying enough to make the high transport and customs clearance costs bearable.

The freight company in your country will also charge a handling fee for the work they do.  This is usually US$50 to US$100.  Some customers clear the shipments through customs themselves to save the cost of using a broker, but most people pay to have a broker clear the shipment.  This is another US$50 to US$100 usually.  If you have arranged domestic delivery, this adds more costs.  You may also have to pay VAT if your country charges it.

Shipping costs vary with the destination.  Some examples follow:

A shipment of four narwhal tusks were shipped in one box that was almost 9 x 1.5 x 1.5 feet to China in September 2016 cost C$822.60 (about US$650.00). This was the freight charge from Toronto to Beijing International Airport and included pick up from our Toronto office, CITES permit processing, air freight direct from Toronto to Beijing, courier fee to send original documents separately, and insurance.

A 53.5" narwhal tusk shipped in a 60" PVC tube that was 4" wide from Toronto to Switzerland in April 2008 cost C$295.10 (about US$300.00).  This charge included pick up from our office, CITES export processing with Canada Customs, air freight on a direct flight on Air Canada to Zurich, and insurance.  All of the charges were minimum fees, so larger tusks should not be much different.  Our customer did his own customs clearance.  This took about one hour and saved some money.  The veterinarian inspection cost approximately C$89.00 and took about 10 minutes to inspect the CITES paperwork.  VAT was about C$120.00 (7.5% of the invoice amount).

An 83" narwhal tusk shipped in a 92" PVC tube that was 4.75" wide from Toronto to Paris, France in August 2009 cost C$302.00 (about US$272.00 at current exchange rates).  This charge included pick up from our office, CITES export processing with Canada Customs, air freight on a direct flight on Air Canada to Paris, and insurance.  All of the charges were minimum fees. 

A 236 cm narwhal tusk shipped in a 9 foot long PVC tube from Toronto to France in July 2012 cost C$392.32 freight and handling.  This charge included pick up from our office, CITES export processing with Canada Customs, air freight on a direct flight on to France, and insurance.  There was a 40 Euro fee charged by the French freight company.  The customer cleared the tusk himself to save on the cost of using a broker.  He also paid 1,504 Euro in custom taxes.

A 62" narwhal tusk shipping in a 72" PVC tube that was 4" wide from Toronto to Germany in July 2010 cost C$292.00 (about US$280.00 at exchange rates current at the time). This charge included pick up from our office, CITES export processing with Canada Customs, air freight on a direct flight on Air Canada from Toronto to Frankfurt, and insurance. 

Two small narwhal tusks measuring 70.5 cm and 73.5 cm were shipped in a single PVC tube by freight collect from Toronto to Germany in April 2012 cost C$500.00 for shipping, customs, and taxes. This charge included pickup from our office, CITES export processing with Canada Customs, air freight on a direct flight from Toronto to Stamberg, and insurance. The customer later wrote back that he was able to get a price reduction from his local freight company.

We shipped 2 long narwhal tusks in one box measuring 307 x 32 x 33 cm (121” x 12.5” x 13”) to Germany in January 2022. The cost to ship this box from our Toronto office to the airport in Germany was C$751.15. This charge included pickup from our office, CITES permit clearance, courier fees, air freight, and insurance.

A 70 cm narwhal tusk was shipped in a PVC tube by freight collect from Toronto to New Zealand in December 2012 cost a total of $588.74 NZD for air freight, customs, and brokerage.  This charge included pickup from our office, CITES validation in Canada and New Zealand, air freight on a direct flight from Toronto to New Zealand, and insurance.  This is what it will cost shipping one narwhal tusk regardless of the size because the shipping costs are minimum fees.  Since the tusk must be shipped direct to New Zealand (it cannot transit through the U.S., U.K., or Australia or it will be seized) the options were limited.

A 71 cm narwhal tusk was shipped in a PVC tube by freight collect from Toronto to Ukraine in February 2012 cost C$455.00 for shipping, $260.00 for customs and $195.00 for taxes. This charge included pick up from our office, CITES export processing with Canada Customs, air freight on a direct flight from Toronto to Kyiv, and insurance. The customer later wrote back to say that he got a better price of $351.00.

A recent shipping estimate we received for a 8.5 feet long tube to be shipped to Hong Kong is C$652.15.  The breakdown was C$415.40 to ship from our door to Hong Kong airport including insurance, C$215.80 total charges in Hong Kong including home delivery, and C$20.95 for the freight forwarder's agent to do the import declaration. (February 2014)

A shipping estimate for a 5 by 1 by 1 box to be shipped from Toronto to Bangkok, Thailand is C$380.80.  This includes pickup from our office, CITES export permit processing with Canada Customs, and air freight to Bangkok Airport. (October 2014)

The all in costs of one 6.5 foot narwhal tusk shipped to a remote part of South Africa in July 2015 was US$2,000.

Receiving Shipments

We have an excellent track record with shipping to countries around the world. We have extensive experience packing to ensure safe shipment.  As a precaution, we always buy insurance for domestic and international shipments to protect against the risk of loss or damage in transit.

If possible, carefully open the parcel with the delivery company representative present before signing a release to the courier or trucking company. It is important for you to open and inspect the goods for any damage and keep photographic records of the condition of the boxes, tubes, and tusks upon arrival. If you delay the inspection or do not keep records of the condition of the shipment at the time of arrival the carrier can claim the damage happened after delivery. We have found that taking pictures as you unpack is good practice in case a claim has to be filed.

Instructions for receiving shipments:

1) Upon delivery, immediately inspect the package in the event that there is obvious physical damage to the package (e.g., torn, crushed, opened, etc.).

2) Record any loss or damage found at the time of delivery on the delivery receipt as an exception. Be as specific as possible. Keep a copy of the delivery receipt for your own claim file. If the loss or damage is not apparent at the time of taking delivery, give notice in writing to the carrier as soon as possible.

3) Any loss or damage must be promptly reported to us and the insurance company so that a surveyor may be dispatched or other appropriate action taken. Be sure to retain all packing material for inspection by the surveyor if required.

4) You must immediately file a written claim against all carriers that may be potentially responsible for the loss or damage (e.g., truck, rail, air, ocean). A separate claim should be filed against each carrier to preserve your rights against those potentially responsible carriers.

5) Documentation required include the following:

  1. Suppliers invoice(s) that indicate values and terms of sale.
  2. Packing list or weight notes.
  3. Delivery receipts, landing accounts, and/or similar documents as evidence of the condition and place of loss.
  4. All original transit documentation, e.g., bill of lading, airway bill, as evidence of the contract of carriage.
  5. Correspondence with carriers, suppliers, or other third parties holding them responsible for any loss or damage so that any subsequent recoveries can be sought from responsible parties.
  6. Original policy or certificate of marine insurance, as applicable.
  7. Survey report, if applicable.
  8. Any other documentation not detailed above relevant to the shipment and the loss.

6) Note that the above procedures and documentation will normally be sufficient but specific circumstances may require additional action or documentation. Under all circumstances, you must always act promptly to reasonably and safely preserve and protect your shipment in order to protect your rights.