Chiru, Tibetan antelope
Antelope hodgsonii, commonly known as the Tibetan antelope or chiru, is a species of antelope native to the Tibetan plateau and surrounding regions, including parts of India, Nepal, and China. It is not a mythical creature like a unicorn but a real animal.
The Tibetan antelope is known for its distinctive appearance, which includes a slender body, long legs, and distinctive curved horns in males. However, these horns are not singular like the horn of a unicorn but rather a pair of straight, lyre-shaped horns that curve slightly backward.
The Tibetan antelope has been highly valued for its wool, which is extremely soft and warm, and is used to make shawls known as shahtoosh. Unfortunately, this has led to illegal poaching and a decline in the population of Tibetan antelopes, leading to conservation efforts to protect this species.
Origin | Himalaya or Tibet
