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Kashmir's Pashmina goats at risk | Kashmir's Pashmina goats at risk |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Tens of thousands of goats that provide the wool for Kashmir's world famous Pashmina shawls are facing death because of unexpectedly cold weather. | Tens of thousands of goats that provide the wool for Kashmir's world famous Pashmina shawls are facing death because of unexpectedly cold weather. |
Winter pastures used by the Pashmina goats in the Ladakh region of Indian-administered Kashmir have been covered in snow, officials say. | Winter pastures used by the Pashmina goats in the Ladakh region of Indian-administered Kashmir have been covered in snow, officials say. |
Fodder provided by the government has also reportedly run out. | |
Embroidered shawls made from Pashmina wool are among Kashmir's best-known handicrafts and are exported worldwide. | Embroidered shawls made from Pashmina wool are among Kashmir's best-known handicrafts and are exported worldwide. |
Many regard Pashmina wool as the finest in the world after that of the chiru antelope, also found in the northern Himalayas. | Many regard Pashmina wool as the finest in the world after that of the chiru antelope, also found in the northern Himalayas. |
International trade in shahtoosh shawls made from the wool of the chiru, or Tibetan antelope, has been banned to protect the endangered species. | International trade in shahtoosh shawls made from the wool of the chiru, or Tibetan antelope, has been banned to protect the endangered species. |
Airdrop request | Airdrop request |
According to Tsering Dorjay, a senior official in Ladakh, some 150,000 Pashmina goats had been affected by the shortage of food. | |
Of these, 100,000 goats were at risk of death if fodder could not be provided immediately. | Of these, 100,000 goats were at risk of death if fodder could not be provided immediately. |
Unusually this year, winter pastures in the Changthang area, bordering China, had been covered in snow, officials said. | Unusually this year, winter pastures in the Changthang area, bordering China, had been covered in snow, officials said. |
Moreover, they said stocks of winter fodder provided by the administration had already been exhausted. | Moreover, they said stocks of winter fodder provided by the administration had already been exhausted. |
The problem facing the Pashmina goats was brought to the authorities' attention by nomads who had travelled by foot to a district office. | The problem facing the Pashmina goats was brought to the authorities' attention by nomads who had travelled by foot to a district office. |
Local officials have asked India's defence ministry to airdrop fodder into areas which are cut off by heavy snowfalls. | Local officials have asked India's defence ministry to airdrop fodder into areas which are cut off by heavy snowfalls. |
The administration is also short of lorries to rush emergency supplies to areas that remain accessible by road. | The administration is also short of lorries to rush emergency supplies to areas that remain accessible by road. |
Locust invasion | Locust invasion |
The Pashmina goats grow a fleece during the winter to cope with adverse weather. | The Pashmina goats grow a fleece during the winter to cope with adverse weather. |
Malnourishment and exceptionally cold conditions have hit them hard this year. | Malnourishment and exceptionally cold conditions have hit them hard this year. |
"The pregnant goats have been having miscarriages and the young ones, up to one-year-old, have been dying because of the cold," Mr Dorjay says. | "The pregnant goats have been having miscarriages and the young ones, up to one-year-old, have been dying because of the cold," Mr Dorjay says. |
Even before the unexpected snowfall, the Changthang area was facing a shortage of grass in the pastures because of an invasion of locusts over the past three years. | Even before the unexpected snowfall, the Changthang area was facing a shortage of grass in the pastures because of an invasion of locusts over the past three years. |
Concern for the welfare of the rare black-necked crane led to wildlife department restrictions on the spraying of insecticides. | Concern for the welfare of the rare black-necked crane led to wildlife department restrictions on the spraying of insecticides. |
Pashmina has a unique place in Kashmir's handicrafts industry. | Pashmina has a unique place in Kashmir's handicrafts industry. |
Shawls woven and embroidered in Kashmir valley are exported to Europe, the Middle East and other parts of the world. | Shawls woven and embroidered in Kashmir valley are exported to Europe, the Middle East and other parts of the world. |
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