In PHOTOS: The world's first cloned pashmina goat

Scientists at the Kashmir Agriculture University have produced the world's first cloned pashmina goat.

"The faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry Sheri Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology has made a breakthrough by successfully cloning the first pashmina goat using the advanced reproductive techniques under the leadership of Dr Riaz Ahmad Shah, associate professor, Centre of Animal Biotechnology," an official statement said.

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At the time of its birth, the unnamed pashmina clone had a weight of 1.3kg, considered normal.

"Success was achieved under the World Bank-funded project called the National Agricultural Innovation Project of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and took two years for standardisation of the technique. The healthy female kid was born on March 9 using a foster mother," the statement said.

"Dr Riaz was the key researcher in the team of scientists who earlier in 2009 gave the first cloned buffalo calf -- Garima -- to the world using the same handmade cloning technique while conducting research at the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana," the statement said.

Dr Tej Partap, vice chancellor, SKUAST and other officials of the university appreciated the team of scientists for this remarkable achievement and hoped that the technology will help harness better income opportunities for the people, especially those from the Ladakh region.

The world famous pashmina shawls are made from the wool of pashmina goats, which are reared in the cold desert region of Ladakh.