Shahtoosh (from Persian شاهتوش 'king of wools'),[1] also known as Shatoush, is a wool obtained from the fur of the chiru (Pantholops hodgsonii, also called Tibetan antelope). Also, shawls made from the wool of the chiru are called shahtoosh. Shahtoosh is the finest animal wool, followed by vicuña wool.
As undomesticated wild animals, the chirus cannot be shorn, so they are killed for this purpose. Due to the severe decline of the chiru population by 90% in the second half of the 20th century, they were internationally classified as a critically endangered species until 2016.[1] Since 2016, they have been classified as a near threatened species due to species conservation programs and partial recovery of population size.[1] The wool is mostly used to make luxurious scarves and shawls, although the production, sale, and acquisition of shahtoosh has been illegal under CITES since 1979.[1][2] On the black market, shahtoosh shawls fetch prices ranging from $5,000[3] to $20,000.[1]
- ^ a b c d e Dina Fine Maron (24 April 2019). "A rare antelope is being killed to make $20,000 scarves". nationalgeographic.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ "Kashmir rethinks shahtoosh ban". The Washington Times. 18 June 2004. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ Gordon Rayner (21 May 2013). "Buyers of £4,000 shahtoosh shawls are fuelling illegal wildlife trade, Prince Charles warns". The Daily Telegraph.