A study conducted by WCS and the Snow Leopard Trust and published in “Conservation Biology” shows that the increasing demand for cashmere is driving expansion of domestic goat populations, which is leading to conflict between pastoralists and predators in the region, including snow leopards.
SLN member Charudutt Mishra conducted the study with Joel Berger from the University of Montana and Bayarbaatar Buuveibaatar of WCS Mongolia.
Sources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130724114002.htm
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112906654/cashmere-trade-threatens-wildlife-072513/