The production of shahtoosh is inherently destructive. Unlike goats used for pashmina, chiru cannot be shorn; they must be to harvest the wool.

Despite the bans, an underground black market persists, though buyers face severe legal risks. Killing me softly | South China Morning Post

It is a non-bailable criminal offense under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 . USA: It is illegal under the Endangered Species Act . UK: It is a criminal offense under COTES Regulations .

Intense poaching for shahtoosh decimated chiru populations, reducing them to approximately 10% of their original numbers by the 1990s. 3. Legal Status and Penalties