11 November 2005
Mixed reaction to Tibetan antelope mascot
(Xinhua; ICT; WTI) The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) has criticised Beijing's adoption of the Tibetan antelope, or chiru, as one of five doll mascots for the 2008 Olympics, saying that it should not co-opt this symbol of Tibet's wildlife heritage, especially without better protecting its survival as a species. "The appropriation of the Tibetan antelope as the Olympic mascot is a way of China attempting to assert the legitimacy of its rule over Tibet", said John Ackerly, President of ICT. "It is ironic that they have chosen a species that is endangered in Tibet partly as a result of the Chinese presence in the region". However, Vivek Menon, President of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI,) welcomed the move as a way of drawing attention to the antelope’s plight. He said, "It is a significant move. China has been trying to take up the cause of the chiru. But Tibet is very far from Beijing and the fact that it managed to reach the policy makers in Beijing is very good news". He also said that the WTI had actually lobbied for the antelope’s inclusion. "WTI president Ashok Kumar and I were in China to lobby for the inclusion of chiru". Beijing chose five stylized doll mascots for the 2008 Olympic Games representing a panda, a Tibetan antelope, a swallow, a fish and the spirit of the Olympic flame.