By Tendar Tsering
DHARAMSHALA September 20: Conservationists say that Snow Beer company’s customer offer of an expedition to one of the least populated areas in Tibet, Kekexili which is off-limits to every one except scientists is a threat to the rare Tibetan antelope, reported the London based newspaper, The Guardian on Tuesday.
Marketing officials of the Snow Beer company, partly owned by the London based SABMiller brewery company said that promotion tour to the Kekexili would promote environmental awareness and lift the veil on the ‘No Human zone” in the region
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However, conservationists who are campaigning against the commercial exploitation of the Tibetan antelope remains skeptical and expresses strong opposition.
“The promotion tour would encourage other companies and tour groups to enter into the supposed to be off-limits area of Kekexili, and endanger the lives of antelopes,” the newspaper quoted the conservationists as saying.
Wild Yak Brigade, a patrol of vigilantes committed to protecting the rare endangered Tibetan antelope have spent years on the mountain risking their lives and fighting with the poachers to protect the endangered species.
In 1995, the Chinese government announced Kekexili to be one of its national reserves and later on in 2004, the film about the mountain patrol protecting the species made the government to strengthen protection of the species.
Among the species, it is the rare Tibetan antelope which has high demand from foreign consumers for its fine shahtoosh wool and the demand has led the hunting to almost a-no-return-extinction point.
The film and later on, making the antelope as a mascot for the Beijing Olympics by the government has helped in recovering the extinction of the rare animal.
The newspaper quoted the manager of Kekexili natural Reserve saying that Snow Beer has requested permission to enter the region, but no approval has been granted.
It is also said that the Chinese Academy of Sciences also used to bring businessmen to the restricted area in the name of research.
Wu Zhu, a conservationist told the the newspaper that “Kekexili Natural Reserve is China’s most precious nature reserve” and there are explicit prohibition against crossing but “Snow have gone ahead with their promotion even before they have permission.”
