SHAHTOOSH WOOL

NEWS: Delhi court convicted a person for illegal export of Shahtoosh shawls made from the hair of the Tibetan Antelope in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

About Shahtoosh Wool

• Shahtoosh à Can only be obtained by killing the Tibetan antelope or chiru.
• Almost all shahtoosh is spun and woven illegally in Jammu & Kashmir.
• Ranging from shades of brown, beige and greyà depends on the gender and body area of the chiru.
• The Shahtoosh shawl tradeà Banned globally since 1975 under CITES, to which India is a signatory.

Chiru

• The population of chiru in Indiaà
• There have been many attempts to breed the chiru with no success.
• Conservation status:
  • WPA, 1972: Schedule I and IV.
  • CITES: Appendix I.
• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened.
• Threat: Illegal poaching, loss of habitat, harsh natural environment they live in.

Various initiatives to curb illegal animal trade

• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)àA legally binding agreement regulating wildlife trade.
• Wildlife Crime Initiative (WCI)àWWF and TRAFFIC launched in 2014 to combat transnational organized wildlife crime.
• Wild for Life Campaignà Led by UNEP, this initiative uses social media to reduce consumer demand for illegal wildlife parts.
• The Wildlife Crime Control Bureauà Established for control of illegal trade in wild life and its products.