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The Tibetan Antelope is, as you may have already guessed, an Antelope native to Tibet. They are the only species in the Genus “Pantholops”, which means “All Antelopes”. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Tibetan Antelope (also known as the Chiru), numbered in the millions. Now, they number around 70,000. Their conservation status is currently only at “Near Threatened”, but they still face threats. The lead cause in the decline of the Tibetan Antelope was commercial hunting, in the 80s and 90s. Tibetan Antelope fur is used to make shawls called “Shahtoosh”, which can sell for anywhere between $4000 and $40,000 USD. The fur of 3 - 5 Tibetan Antelope go into the making of one shawl. While the fur can be harvested while the animal is alive, hunters prefer to shoot the Tibetan Antelope and harvest it after death. The good news for the Tibetan Antelope is that the Chinese government and International Non-governmental Organizations have since taken steps to protect the beasts. They have been designated a legally protected species in China, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare has set up annual workshops for Park Guides Nature Reserve Staff in the areas where Tibetan Antelopes are present.