Serious concerns are being raised about the security of wildlife and valuable flora in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand after nearly two dozen Nepalis were caught while illegally harvesting Yarsagumba in the Nanda Devi National Park on the weekend. Since these people were also found to be in possession of snares apart from the illegally harvested Yarsagumba, their involvement in wildlife poaching too cannot be dismissed.
Based on information received from sources about illegal harvesting of Yarsagumba in the Valley of Flowers and Kunthkhal, the Nanda Devi National Park staff nabbed members of a Nepali gang on Saturday and found some illegally harvested herbs and two snares in their possession. The forest department formed three teams which succeeded in nabbing 22 Nepal natives. It was learnt that these persons had entered the Valley of Flowers and Kunthkhal via Hanuman Chatti.
According to department officials, only 80 units of the yarsa gumba herb were found from the persons which strengthens the suspicion that they were not intruding only for illegally harvesting the herb but also for poaching wildlife. According to the Nanda Devi national park divisional forest officer Rajeev Dhiman, the department had acted ontime based on a tip off which prevented the intruders from wreaking much damage. He said that some locals are also involved in facilitating the intrusion which is why the Nepalis were able to enter the protected areas without inconvenience. Action will be taken against the intruders under the Wildlife Protection Act and Indian Forest Act, he added.
It is pertinent to mention here that Nepalis have been caught illegally harvesting the Yarsagumba herb and trying to poach wildlife in the past too. However, the locals who have been collaborating with the criminals have remained out of the reach of the authorities so far. Environmentalists are questioning the efficiency of the department officials considering the continued threat posed to the wildlife and environment due to the failure of the authorities to apprehend those locals who are helping and sheltering wildlife criminals.