Most of their distribution range falls above 4,000 m, and in depsang plains in northern ladakh, they can be found as high as 5500 m. Chiru have adapted to live in this area thanks to their thick, woolly coats, the underfur of which is one of the lightest and warmest in the world Males have long vertical horns that begin growing after about a year and reach up to 60 centimetres in length. Fewer than 150,000 mature individuals are left in the wild, but the population is currently thought to be increasing. Pantholops hodgsonii (also known as the tibetan antelope and chiru (department of interior 2000) is endemic to the tibetan plateau It is found between ngoring hu in china and the ladakh region in india (tibetan plateau project 2001a).
Often referred to as the tibetan antelope, the chiru holds a unique place in the ecological tapestry of its home range. Tibetan antelope, also known as chiru, is an animal regarded as elves on the tibetan plateau Chiru tibetan antelope is a unique and rare species in china, and one of the ancient and mysterious races. Known for its striking appearance and unique adaptations, this antelope is a symbol of resilience in harsh environments. They are holy unicorns of the roof of the planet earth and virtually exclusive to the tibetan plateau. The tibetan antelope, or chiru, has an undercoat so fine, soft, and warm, that the demand for it is rapidly leading to its extinction
