Pantholops hodgsoni(i), the chiru or Tibetan antelope

An antelope living on the Tibetan plateau, the chiru is famous for its soft fur used to produce sha(h)toosh シャトゥーシュ material for shawls. Although traditionally chiru wool was gathered from bushes, the market for shahtoosh has driven up the price and demand, and now the chiru are killed for their hair. Pashimina パシュミナ is recommended as a substitute for shahtoosh.

For photos of the chiru, see: AltaVista

To learn more about the chiru see:
English
Tibetan antelope, Chiru
Wildlife Conservation Society: Asia Program: Chiru: Tibetan Antelope: Shatoosh
Save the Tibetan Antelope
Bloody shawls exterminating chiru

Japanese
http://www.twics.com/~trafficj/shahtoosh991021.htm

This entry was created by Benjamin Barrett.

Created 2000-08-25.