A Thai court convicted Indian national Reyaz Ahmad Mir on Monday of violating Thailand's wildlife protection law by selling shawls made of endangered Tibetan antelopes. Mir admitted to being part of a ring that sold hundreds of shahtoosh shawls smuggled from China, through India, and into Thailand. One shawl is normally made from the wool of three to five Tibetan Antelopes and can be sold for US$1,200 to US$12,000. Mir was ordered to pay 10,000 baht, but his store was not forced closed. Some bemoaned the penalty as little more than a slap on the wrist.
AP
AP