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Shahtoosh is a specialized type of fibre obtained from Tibetan antelope (Chiru). About fifty years back its population was estimated to be about ten lacs animals but recent count has shown that the number has drastically reduced to 50 to 60 thousand only by way of killing of the animal to extract the shahtoosh wool. The species is largely confined to Tibet/China therefore the articles out of the shahtoosh especially the shawls have been banned through out the world including India. |
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Census (2006): 250 – 300 heads migrated from Tibet to DBO and Chang Chen Mo area of Ladakh. Chiru included in Schedule – I of J&K Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978. IUCN Status: Critically Endangered. Complete ban on trade in dealing of trophies, animal articles etc derived from Chiru.
Section 49 B of Wildlife Act requires a declaration to be given by any person carrying on business or occupation of manufacturing or dealing in Chiru. |
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Supreme Court’s orders in SLP 12434/2003 Ashok Kumar Vs Jammu & Kashmir State regarding declaration and certification of Shahtoosh products: |
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Declarations of Shahtoosh products during 2004 & 2005
a) Kashmir Region = 88 + 112.5 kg raw
b) Jammu Region = 227
c) Ladakh Region = Nil
Total = 315
Shahtoosh products declared ending 12/2005
a) Kashmir Region = 477+ 112.5 kg raw
b) Jammu Region = 483
c) Ladakh Region = Nil
Total = 960 + 112.5 kg raw
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Fur Trade - Inventorization & Payment of Compensation |
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Jammu & Kashmir Government imposed a ban on fur trade in 1997. Decided to compensate 224 fur stock holders and connected artisans involved in the fur trade.Value of the stocks inventoried in 1997 was 9.42 crores.
Wildlife Department inventoried the fur stocks in association with Government of India’s representative in 1997. |
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Taking over of fur stocks completed and process of payment is in progress.
Fur stocks to be destroyed by burning under media coverage to give the message of conservation.
The disposal/burning of the fur stocks shall perhaps be the biggest global event of its kind.
Consequent upon this it has affected the trade in Kashmir rendering about one lac families idle. |
