Between three to five Tibetan antelope are killed to make a shahtoosh. The tan-colored scarves and shawls are illegal to buy and sell, yet the market for these luxury items still exists, with a single shahtoosh fetching as much as $20,000.
A common misconception is that the “wool” of the Tibetan antelope is naturally shed and then collected. However, the soft, insulating underfur used to make the scarves is collected by poachers scraping it off of the dead animals’ hides.
Once numbering in the millions, the Tibetan antelope is now extinct in Nepal, and sustaining a population of between 100,000-250,000 around the border of China and India. Habitat protection and a ban on trade through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITIES) are helping population recovery, but poaching is still a major problem. Poaching for the fur wiped out 90% of the species in the 20th century.
Owning a shahtoosh was once a status symbol in India and many were passed down through generations. Now the demand for the shawls comes largely from Western markets. Swiss authorities reported seizing around 800 shahtoosh shawls between 2015 and 2018 from travelers from Germany, the UK, Italy and the Middle East. Laws that are in place carry harsh penalties; in 2018 two tourists faced seven years in jail for attempting to smuggle shahtoosh shawls out of India.
Shahtoosh Shawl / Photo credit US Fish and WIldlife
Many consider pashmina wool, combed from cashmere goats, a close equivalent to shahtoosh; however, there are also ethical issues with raising animals for their fiber. Many live in cramped conditions and are exploited their entire lives. There is an abundance of sustainable textile choices available, including hemp, recycled cotton and even banana fiber. If you desire something exotic, instead of wearing it, consider taking an adventurous vacation or visit to a wild animal sanctuary instead.
What’s New…
As a result, the scarves can support more intricate designs and look and feel more like a pashmina. “If you make a shahtoosh shawl with just shahtoosh wool, it’s very light and fragile, so by mixing it with pashmina, you can do more embroidery,” Pragatheesh says. This hardier wool also allows for machine production, helping weavers save time on work that would otherwise take years, he adds.
SHAME ON THIS BRAND
Once again humans stealing another animal’s fur for cruelty & greed.
Cruelty needs to STOP; terrible.
WHY MUST AN ANIMAL DIE JUST SO A HUMAN CAN LOOK GOOD..THIS IS SHAMEFUL..ANYONE WHO WOULD AGREE WITH KILLING AN ANIMAL JUST FOR FASHION..THEY ARE MONSTERS…ANIMALS ARE NOT HERE FOR OUR USE..THEY HERE TO CO-EXIST WITH US..
No animal is safe when it comes to be known to the greedy backward Chinese people. Any moving object is their palatable food or garment to cover their nakedness or to increase their libido. These poor animals cannot even keep their own skin to themselves but the greedy subhumans needs to own that too. What a pathetic world we live in. PLEASE BAN & FINE HEVILY IF CAUGHT WITH HAVING THESE SKINS OR SHOWELS OR SCARVES. People are becoming more violent & barbaric every day. THIS MUST BE STOPPED FOR GOOD.
Firmado!!!!!!!!
Stop the exploitation of the Tibetan natural l resources & oppression of its people & religion!
Ban Shahtoosh. Save Tibetan antelopes and other animals that are killed for clothing and other things.
😤
I think I neglected to sign my name and e-mail address in my comment about how Disgusting and Heartbreaking I think that a fashion accessory could cost a living, breathing animal its life….
Disgusting as well as Heartbreaking for a fashion accessory…Wake up people this is Wrong !!!
Can’t the greedy people see their selfishness is robbing the rest of us! Please stop this abuse.
animals are not to be used for your luxury clothing.
Please stop skinning animals for human greed!!
Please stop using animals in this awful way!! Their skuns beling to them!
The only creature that needs to wear an antelope hide is an antelope. End of.
How many more petitions do we have to sign before people get the message that the abuse of animals for “fashion” is NOT pretty?
Let’s make “being kind to animals” a status symbol, encouraging people to have empathy and compassion.
Before long, the biodiversity on our planet will be a thing of the past.
Thank you!! For all you do gor animals in need!!!!
Telling someone what they can do wit their own money is not a road I want to go down.
BUT – I wish affluent people would find something better to do with their wealth.
Having status symbols like a shahtoosh to make you fell better about yourself is just sad.
Anything involving the abuse or death of an animal tells the world you’re a piece of crap.
Any human to wear an animal’s skin and fur for fashion should be hunted and peeled apart just like these animals go through! For the murders that hunt these animals for money they belong being put through this , healed and made to continue going through it for as many animals they have slaughtered for fashion blood money!
Stupidity at its best. Go to a store and get you a non-animal alternative. People disgust me sometimes.
One again I have to read another story of disgusting humans doing disgusting things to animals. Mankind is sick, demented and blood thirsty. Please India throw these rich decadent tourists in jail. See how they survive in AN INDIAN PRISON. Just the thought of it brings me joy and satisfaction. The Filthy Rich sickos who care nothing about animals in their suffering are now the ones that are suffering in a filthy Indian jail.
These people need money first and don,t think of the consequences sadly. They need to be educated as do we!
Stop killing innocent animals!
This lovely animal must be protected.
They look like any other scarves to me. It’s just another way of showing off at the animals expense as per usual.
Genetically inferior humans.
Nice thing is these sort of people are easy to neutralize.
Good luck FBI in figuring out how we do, what we do
I really like the way you think!!!!!!
Can’t we just eliminate all the greedy cruel people who kill the antelope and all the pervert idiots who would buy these scarves and let the animals alone.
Once again an animal is paying the price so we may flounce around and look fashionable. 😡😠🤬