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Parasite fungus faces extinction in Uttaranchal's forests

DEHRA DUN: Smugglers from India, Nepal and China are sneaking into Ascot wildlife sanctuary in Uttaranchal's Pithoragarh district not for any rare animal but in search of a parasitic fungus with aphrodisiac traits, whose growing extraction and international demand have threatened it with extinction.

Two Nepalese labourers were arrested recently at Landsdowne town of Pauri district for smuggling ``yartsa gombu'', a half plant and half insect popularly known as desi viagra for its aphrodisiac qualities.

This is not an isolated incident. Wildlife officials indicated that in the face of its growing demand in the international market, smugglers from Nepal, China and India are sneaking into the sanctuary to illegally extract ``yartsa gombu'' found in the Alpine region of eastern Kumaoan and parts of Chamoli district at a height ranging between 3500 to 4500 meters.

With widespread extraction of the yarstsa gombu, known as cordyceps sinensis in scientific parlance, continuing unabated, scientists have now warned that the species is now facing extinction.

``Yartsa gombu is a rare species which has tremendous medicinal values to cure heart, asthmatic and other diseases besides its aphrodisiac use. It is very intricate balance of nature in which a fungus grows on a caterpillar,'' said Prof. G S Rawat of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

The parasitic fungus, ``yartsa gombu'' grows in the soil and infects a moth larva (hepialus virescens) during its hibernation in winter.

The fruiting body of the fungus develops on the larva and emerges on it after the snow melts in winter and when the hibernating period is over.

Undeterrred by the fear of getting caught, smugglers usually put up tents at a height ranging between 6,000 to 10,000 feet for several days in Ascot sanctuary which is becoming a hotspot of the international syndicate in China and some ASEAN nations.

Two smugglers were killed in July this year in gun fights at Chhiplakot area of Ascot sanctuary.

Yartsa gombu is sold in the international market of Hong Kong and China at a price ranging between Rs 60,000 to Rs one lakh per kg, scientists said.

During summers, yartsa gombu, which has a short life span, attracts smugglers having nexus with local people, wildlife experts said adding this is the time when smugglers usually converge in Pithoragarh in search of these fungi.

Though Uttaranchal government has banned extraction of the yarsta gombu, its illegal extraction in the area is going on for decades.

``If the trend continues for another two to three years, then this species will become extinct'', warned Rawat.

Agrees Dr H B Naithani, a senior scientist in the Forest Research Institute. ``The government must do something to stop widespread extraction of this species,'' said he.

Smugglers usually pluck whole of the caterpillar along with fungi and sell them in the markets of Hong Kong at a very hefty price.

Though there had been scramble for its conservation, it is yet to be declared in the endangered list, Naithani said. - PTI

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Parasite fungus faces extinction in Uttaranchal's forests

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