343 years after its extinction, Kashmir artisans give wings to the dodo in papier mache

This Christmas, papier mache artisans in Srinagar have given wings to thousands of dodos, a bird that became extinct in 1681 from the world just within 80 years of their interaction with humans and exposure to depleting forests. Reyaz Jan, in his 70s, was giving a final touch to a papier mache of the bird he has never seen in his life at a ‘karkhana’ in Srinagar’s Zadibal area. There is a huge demand for dodo products, which come in different sizes,” Faizan Mir, who runs Mir Arts, an exclusive papier mache arts showroom, at Srinagar’s Hawal, said. 600 years of papier mache in Kashmir Most papier mache artisans know little of how dodos were introduced in Kashmir’s art scene. It’s a very new addition to the array of articles Kashmir produces in papier mache,” Mr. Jan said.