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| With hundreds of Pashmina goats killed in Ladakh due severe cold, Kashmir Pashmina shawl business in doll drums | | | Early Times Special Correspondent
Jammu | Mar 1
News Analysis
The unprecedented heavy snowfall for a long period in J&K, early February this year, though proves blessing in disguise by brightening prospects of winter tourism as well as harbinger of bumper crops particularly of quality apples, yet it is feared to affect adversely the trade of pashmina shawls, for which Kashmir is known world over.
Hundreds of rare Himalayan goats whose wool is used to make Kashmir's famed pashmina shawls have died due to heavy snow and lack of fodders. The pastures for goats spread over the mountains of Ladakh region bordering China have been blanketed by exceptionally thick layer of snow and the farms have run out of fodder. Hundreds of pashmina goats, the young ones in particular, have perished due to the unusual intense winter. At least 600 bodies of animals having died of heavy snow and intense cold are found by the authorities at one spot in Ladakh.
The mountain goats produce wool for Kashmir's feather light pashmina shawls, which are exported to Europe, Middle East and the United States. Exceptionally bad weather has played havoc with these goats this year. Most of the newly born lambs could not survive, while those who survived withstanding severe cold, are now dying for lack of grass and fodder. These are also deprived of their mother's milk since the mothers have grown weak and give no milk. Although the authorities are sending fodder for the goats, but the same has not reached the far flung areas and the fresh grass will surface only after two months.
Pashmina wool comes from the fleece of the pashmina goats that live in the high altitudes of the Himalayas. An estimated 1,50,000 pashmina goats are found at the high altitudes in Ladakh. Demand for the fine pashmina wool has risen sharply since India banned trade in Shatoosh shawls, made from a rare species of Tibetan antelope. The best pashmina needs the annual growth of three goats to make one shawl. The winter pastures have also been suffering with a shortage of grass during past three years, due to locust invasion from neighboring China. |
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