Pakistan's demand for shahtoosh shawls threatens rare Tibetan antelope
Source: The Guardian
Pakistan's demand for shahtoosh shawls threatens rare Tibetan antelope
Rina Saeed Khan in Islamabad
theguardian.com, Friday 17 January 2014 13.00 GMT
In the musty back room of the Kashmiri handicrafts store in Islamabad's main Jinnah market, the shopkeeper reaches behind the counter with the keys to open a concealed black suitcase. He retrieves half a dozen luxury shawls made from the fur of an endangered antelope, which are so fine they can be passed through a ring.
The shahtoosh shawls – the Persian word means "king of wools" – are delicate, incredibly soft and unstained. But the trade in these shawls, which appear to be new, is illegal.
Shahtoosh shawls are made by highly skilled Kashmiri artisans from the fine under-fur of the chiru (the Tibetan antelope) and they are prized in Pakistan. Processing or wearing shahtoosh is a punishable offence in India, and in Pakistan – where they are smuggled into from Indian Kashmir – anyone selling them face prison sentences of up to two years and fine of up to Rs1m (£5,805). International trade in the Tibetan antelope is also banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), to which Pakistan is a signatory.
Despite these controls, possessing a shahtoosh shawl is still a status symbol among the rich elite. During the winter months the brown-beige shawls are worn by men and women, and can be seen draped over many a sari and salwar kameez at lavish weddings and dinner parties at exclusive venues. "Most of our clients are Pakistanis, not foreigners. They appreciate the true value of these shawls," points out the shopkeeper, proudly displaying a rare creamy white shahtoosh, on sale for $4,000.
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/17/shahtoosh-shawl-rate-tibetan-antelope-kashmir
