The production of shahtoosh is inherently destructive. Unlike goats used for pashmina, chiru cannot be shorn; they must be to harvest the wool.
Shahtoosh, meaning "king of wools" in Persian, is an ultra-fine wool known for being exceptionally soft, light, and warm.
The chiru has been listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) since 1979, prohibiting all commercial trade. National Laws: buy shahtoosh
It is a non-bailable criminal offense under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 . USA: It is illegal under the Endangered Species Act . UK: It is a criminal offense under COTES Regulations .
The fiber is roughly one-fifth the width of a human hair, ranging between 9 and 11 microns . The production of shahtoosh is inherently destructive
A single woman's shawl typically requires the lives of 3 to 5 antelopes .
Intense poaching for shahtoosh decimated chiru populations, reducing them to approximately 10% of their original numbers by the 1990s. 3. Legal Status and Penalties The chiru has been listed under Appendix I
Due to its extreme fineness, an entire full-sized shahtoosh shawl can pass through a small wedding ring. 2. The Cost of Production