Ban on wild mushroo in Pilibhit to check man-tiger conflict

The district administration of Pilibhit and the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) authorities have completely banned ‘katarua’, a kind of wild mushroom, to avoid man-animal conflict in the forest.

As per the order, people are prohibited from harvesting, selling, storing or buying the mushroom in any form in areas close to PTR. The forest officials have warned of legal action if anyone is found involved in the abovementioned activities.

For the foresters of PTR, katarua (Indian Truffle mushroom ) is one of the biggest hurdles in avoiding avoid man-animal conflict in the monsoon. Prized for its meaty texture, the mushroom grows during the monsoon on the mineral-rich forest soil. It is collected and sold in markets after being harvested by the locals living near the tiger reserve. This, according to forest officials, leads to man-animal conflicts, often resulting in human death.

“Katarua usually grows in the core area of PTR where locals enter illegally to harvest it. By entering deep inside the forest, they become easy targets for large animals like tiger and leopards,” said Naveen Khandelwal, deputy director of PTR, confirming the ban. PTR has witnessed a rise in such conflicts ever since its inception in 2014. In m cases, these man-ani encounters turn fatal. Abou people have been killed in tiger conflict in the area s 2017. At least a quarter of t deaths, according to the fo department, occurred insid forest area where the vic had ventured into to collect arua. The attacks forced administration to take ac against the sale of katarua. “ban is part of the efforts to vent people from entering forest area,” said Khandel Teams of forest department local police launched the d on Saturday. “Over one qu of katarua was seized in r conducted by our teams at eral places on last w “informed the officer. The te also fined some people for session of katarua and warn charge them under Forest Wildlife Protection Act of 1

“We are also running awareness campaign, ur people to not enter the fore collect katarua,” the off added. Despite all these eff locals overlook the dangers enter the forest to harvest arua. Their biggest motiv perhaps, is the hope of getti good price in the market.

The pod shaped mushr with sizes varying from a c metre to an inch is savoure its meaty texture. People in terai belt (foothills) also sume it as an aphrodisiac.