Shahtoosh is an illegal fiber that comes from the Tibetan Chiru antelope. Some manufacturers of pashmina use this fiber and pass it off as genuine pashmina wool. The genuine pashmina comes from the Chyangra goat, or the Capra Hircus, which lives in the mountainous regions of Mongolia and the Himalayas.
The Tibetan Chiru is a natural magnet for the botfly. This botfly burrows deep into the antelopes skin and lays eggs during the early months of summer. At almost the same time, the chiru begins to shed its thick winter coat. In order to rid itself of the fly, the chiru rubs up against briar patches. The weavers then collect the wool from the bushes. However, in the process of making shahtoosh, Tibetan Chiru antelope has to be killed. In contrast, no harm comes to the goat used to produce pashmina wool. Because the antelope is slaughtered, the population of this species is slowly dwindling. Today it is already part of the endangered species list. In 1977, Tibet passed Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Preservation) Act of 1972, which prohibits hunting or trading this animal and other listed animals.
The Chiru antelope is found in the high regions of Tibet, in China, and...
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