This Fridays endangered species article focuses on the Tibetan antelope a species oddly still hunted within Tibet even though they are protected by law. Tibetan antelope scientifically identified as Pantholops hodgsonii was located in 1826 by Dr Clarke Abel whom was a British surgeon and naturalist. Technically in Great Britain surgeons are not classified as doctors however he did in later life receive a doctoral degree. Dr Clarke Abel accompanied Lord Amherst on his mission to China in 1816-17 as the embassys chief medical officer and naturalist, on the recommendation of Sir Joseph Banks. Tibetan Antelope commonly known as Chiru are native to China (Qinghai, Xinjiang), India (Jammu-Kashmir). Unfortunately the species of Asiatic Antelope is now extinct within Nepal. The Chiru was once found all over Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China, however its populations have been seriously depleted by blood thirsty poachers and hunters of which is the main primary threat to this species. Tibetan Antelopes are now said to be banished from the eastern plateau although some evidence does suggest there are small fragmented populations no fewer than 10-20 mature individuals. Environmentalists documented back in the late 1990s that the only remaining stronghold where the Tibetan Antelope exists now is that of Chang Tang area of north-western Tibet with small populations within northeast Ladakh, India. Back in 1998 environmentalists documented population sizes were roughly standing at 75,000 individuals. However oddly in 1999 research teams placed the herd size being at some 100,000-120,000 individuals. If this is even true then the species doesnt or would not back then been classified as endangered. In 2004 Environmentalists Xi and Wang documented the species size to be standing at some 150,000 individuals. It would seem that there is some rather conflicting data surrounding the actual population size of the Tibetan Antelope of which International Animal Rescue Foundation India has called on environmental departments to now look into furthermore. Environmentalists have stated these figures to be rather speculative and more is now needed to determine the factual population size rather than just sheer guess work which doesnt help environmental welfare teams in their quest to preserve this species. Tibetan Antelope is nomadic and migratory of which they migrate some over the Summer and Winter hundreds of kilometers although some migrate over smaller distances. Males and females will separate normally when migrating except for mating which is rather interesting as not many species of Antelope behave in this manner. The Chiru is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species Wild Flora and Fauna and is allegedly said to be protected under Chinese and Indian law. However International Animal Rescue Foundation India has already located evidence (not included) of hunters hunting this species. Even more concerning these hunters are American and European of which have from 2009-2013 passed through customs with their trophy - in total 14 separate occasions were noted which border control/customs allowed through. Cites would NOT have issued permits for these species to be hunted. So are these hunters bringing back old trophies? Evidence has been passed onto the relevant authorities. Concerning too is that Indian, Pakistani and Chinese hunters have been noted as hunting this species too. Although law enforcement is said to be somewhat lacking within the Tibetan Antelopes range more MUST be done to preserve these now (endangered) species. Tourists visiting India please do not purchase any shawls containing shahtoosh fur which has been illegally hunted from the Tibetan Antelope. Customs worldwide must also monitor and confiscate shahtoosh shawls or any type of shawl containing woven shahtoosh. Major threats; Chiru have long been hunted for their underfur (shahtoosh), which is renowned for its quality and which has traditionally been transported to Srinagar in Kashmir, where it is woven into an extremely fine fabric used to make shawls. This hunting escalated to a commercial scale in the late 1980s and 1990s, becoming the major threat to Chiru and leading to a severe decline in numbers. Measures to restrict illegal hunting and smuggling of the product have become increasingly effective, though the problem has not been eliminated. Horns of the males have also been traditionally used as gun rests, and to a limited extent in traditional Chinese medicine. Other important threats include expansion of livestock herding into remote and previously unused areas, road building (facilitating the above and illegal hunting), fencing of pastures on the Tibetan plateau, and construction of the Beijing-Lhasa railway which threatened to divide Chiru range. Engineering measures, including underpasses, now appear to be having some beneficial effect. Chiru are also vulnerable to severe winter conditions. An exceptional snowstorm in Qinghai in 1985 caused high mortality and led to their disappearance from some areas especially in the eastern part of their range. Via Dr Josa Depre [email protected] speakupforthevoiceless.org international-animalrescue-foundation.org.uk saynotodogmeat.net Donate here today and help us preserve our fauna and flora of the world. Donate here - https://facebook/pages/International-Animal-Rescue-Foundation-World-Action-South-Africa/199685603444685?sk=app_117708921611213 Alternatively you can donate via our main communications site hereto at; international-animalrescue-foundation.org.uk via the donate button on the right hand side. All donations and equipment, help that we provide is now being documented on to our main E.N.M site here which every six months we update. speakupforthevoiceless.org/funding-african-wildlife-survival-update/ :) Check out more news thats been hitting the headlines recently hereto: whoisnotodogmeat/2014/04/06/bokdays-film-exposed-a-cautionary-tale/
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 02:00:28 +0000
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