- "Keep an eye out for the American. Von Beck wants his head."
- ―Ivory Hunter[src]
Several Russian and South African Ivory Hunters were hired by Albrecht Von Beck to assist his search for the Heart of Koru Watu, in the lost city of Wariyapola on the island of Ceylon.
Indiana Jones had an encounter with these men while searching for the same artifact.
History[]
In 1935, ivory hunters, a mix of Russian and South African men, had been enlisted by the Nazi colonel Albrecht Von Beck to reinforce his pursuit of the Heart of Koru Watu, which actually held a section of the Mirror of Dreams. Tasked with impeding Indiana Jones' progress, who was also searching for the idol, the ivory hunters moved with lethal force. To do so, they were armed with several weapons:
- Double barreled shotguns
- Revolvers
- Spades
- Machetes
- Explosives
Albrecht Von Beck flanked by ivory hunters.
The hunters were active on Ceylon and Jones recognized that the men were "no boy scouts" and that he had better watch his back. Several had made their way deep into the lost city of Wariyapola, setting up a few camps as they went. They were able to recover the Mahavatu Mask, from the city but this artifact was recovered by Indy. They often complained about the mosquitos in the area and could be seen slapping their arms if one landed on them. Some complained about Von Beck not paying them enough while others seamed to dislike Indy personally, calling him a "pretty boy" or telling they are going to make him "eat his whip". They used elephant tusks in some of the things they made like a bridge over a crocodile infested river. Many of them seamed to like alcohol as many liquor bottles were around there camps and some of them liked to smoke. They also had a sense of comradery among them as they often referred to each other as lad.
An Ivory Hunter bridge over the River of Fangs.
The archaeologist reached the Heart first. However, Von Beck and his men were able to catch up to him and were waiting for him after he retrieved the Heart. Indy appeared to cooperate with Von Beck and gave him the artifact but suddenly knocked it out of his hands and threw him into nearby water which was home to a giant crocodile. Von Beck ordered his men to kill Indy but he outmanoeuvred the ivory hunters and escaped with the Heart.
Behind the scenes[]
Concept art
Nick Jameson provided the voice for the South African Ivory Hunter characters. The Russian Ivory Hunters were voiced by Phil Proctor.
Appearances[]
- Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb (First appearance)