Tibetan Antelope [UPSC Notes]

Almost all Tibetan antelope are found entirely in China, in southern Xinjiang, Tibet, and western Qinghai; a few are also found in India’s Ladakh region. In this article, you can read all about the Tibetan Antelope for the IAS exam environment and ecology section.

Tibetan Antelopes

Tibetan Antelopes, locally named Chiru, inhabit sparsely populated harsh alpine regions such as desert meadow plateaus and plateau grasslands at an altitude of 3250 – 5500  metres. 

Image source: global.chinadaily.com.cn

• Tibetan antelopes belong to the Bovidae family and Pantolop Genus. They have a small sac in each nostril which helps them to breathe in thin air. 
• Their scientific name is Pantholops hodgsonii.
• IUCN status: Near Threatened

What is Shahtoosh?

Tibetan antelopes are hunted for their extremely soft, light and warm underfur. The underfur of Tibetan antelopes is called shahtoosh, a Persian word which means “king of wools”. It is used to weave luxury shawls. It takes the underfur of 3-5 adult antelopes to make one shawl. To collect the fur, the animal is to be killed. At present, the sale and possession of Shahtoosh shawls are banned in India and in many countries.

The shahtoosh shawl is so lightweight that it can be passed through a ring. Not just its lightness but its warmth is incomparable too. Legend has it that the shawl is so warm that it can be used to hatch pigeon eggs. 

Tibetan Antelopes – Conservation

Since 1979, Tibetan Antelopes have been under the legal protection of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

• In 2008, the Tibetan Antelope was listed as an endangered species on the Red List of Threatened species by the IUCN (International Union For Conservation of Nature). In September 2016, IUCN lowered the Tibetan antelope from endangered to the “Near Threatened (NT)” level.
• Fewer than 150,000 mature individuals are left in the wild but it is believed that the numbers are increasing.

Tibetan Antelope:- Download PDF Here