In Greek mythology, the golden fleece of a winged ram is highly coveted because it symbolizes kingship and authority. Thousands of years later, greedy poachers are scrambling for a similar “soft gold” from Tibetan antelopes that can be woven into a luxurious shahtoosh in Tibet in southwest China.

The so-called “soft gold” is the underfur of the Tibetan antelope. It is said to be the warmest and softest wool, and its color ranges from grey, beige to brown. The fur can only be collected when the antelope is killed. A single shahtoosh shawl would cost the lives of four antelopes. They have almost been wiped out due to the high demand for these extravagant shawls.

The Tibetan antelope or chiru is native to the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and primarily inhabits the Changtang Nature Reserve in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Covering an area of 298,000 square kilometers, the nature reserve is home to over 150,000 Tibetan antelopes, 10,000 wild yaks and over 50,000 Tibetan wild donkeys.

The number of Tibetan antelopes plummeted from nearly a million at the beginning of the 20th century to about 70,000 in 2000. After decades of conservation efforts, its population has recovered to 200,000 in 2015 and they are no longer considered an endangered species in China, according to a joint report from the China's Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

However, Tibetan antelopes still face multiple threats. They are palatable prey for wolves and snow leopards. The fight among male antelopes is fierce during the mating season because one male antelope usually chooses four to six female antelopes as partners. Some may stay single or even die if they fail to win the hearts of female antelopes.

Each summer, female antelopes migrate 200 to 300 kilometers to particular regions for breeding, during which the death ratio of female antelope or baby antelope is also higher. Local authorities have dismantled the pasture fences built along the migration route of the Tibetan antelopes. So far, a total of 25,000 meters of fences have been removed in carrying out a relocation project for high-altitude ecological protection.

In the Greek tale of Jason and the golden fleece, Jason managed to acquire the golden fleece with great difficulty, but didn't enjoy a happy life. It seems wiser to appreciate the beauty of the golden fleece rather than possess it at whatever the cost. The golden fleece can only shine like gold on the Tibetan antelopes themselves.