The Chiru of High Tibet (review)

The wool of the chiru (or Tibetan antelope) makes shahtoosh, one of the finest fabrics in the world, but since the hair cannot be obtained without killing the animal, the fabric's popularity has meant that the chiru have been hunted into endangerment in their Tibetan habitat. Martin's descriptive, gently rhythmic narrative explains the quest of concerned people to find and document the chiru's calving ground in order to ensure the animals' protection there. The first searcher is biologist George Schaller (subject of Turner's Life in the Wild, BCCB 11/08), and his efforts inspire a team of four mountain climbers (including famous mountaineer Conrad Anker) to traverse the intimidating terrain, hauling their supplies in carts they pull themselves, until they finally discover the elusive nursery of the chiru in the distant Tibetan plains. This is as close to a search for Shangri-La as reality gets (it's even a journey through the same region), and the text manages to include a fair amount of factual detail without shifting from its lyrical, musing tone; the short paragraphs, ragged-right lines, and provision of additional information in compact, decorative sidebar boxes keep the look inviting. The stylized and fanciful flavor of Wingerter's soft-toned acrylic paintings rather undermines the reality of the situation, especially in the occasional stiff close-ups of the animals, but its mystical air matches the text's mood. The otherworldly feel is enhanced by lots of misty pastel-colored landscapes and the silent guest appearances of other rare Tibetan wild animals such as snow leopards, the black-necked crane, and the wild yak. Youngsters taken more by pilgrimage than by conservation will be drawn by the spiritual tone of the searchers' journeys, while animal lovers will appreciate the extent to which people will go to save the vulnerable. The book closes with a photo spread, a short list of works consulted, and an author's note.