Lizards Fall Prey To "Magical" Plant Root Scam

The "Hatha Jodi" is a rare plant root that dealers claim grows in sacred sites in Lumbini valley in Nepal and Amarkantak hills, India. Because its appearance resembles two human hands, the Hatha Jodi is often marketed as a magical good luck charm, one that grants happiness, good health, and wards away bad spirits. Authorities have found the Hatha Jodi in spiritual stores in cities like Delhi, rural grocery stores and in shops along pilgrimage routes, but the charm is also being sold around the world on major online retailers including Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, Snapdeal and Etsy.

It remains unclear whether or not the Hatha Jodi root actually exists, but scientists have uncovered a shocking truth about the so-called product sold globally: it comes from no species of plant. The "root" is actually the dried out penises  (or plastic replicas) of two species of monitor lizards native to India. The Bengal monitor lizard and the Yellow monitor lizard are the victims of this bizarre trade; listed under Appendix I of CITES, the trade of these animals is illegal.

 “I first became fully aware of this as a potential illegal trade issue of animal welfare and conservation concern in December 2016. That’s when I first saw evidence that ‘Hatha Jodi’ were being sold at spiritual stores in urban centre of Delh. Soon after we sought — and established — that these items were also available for purchase in rural areas across India. Also online research, revealed after a few clicks, that they were also up for sale on all the major online retailers that spring to mind. The scope and scale was a real shock to the system.” -Dr Neil D’Cruze, World Animal Protection Source

 “If a real plant does exist at these extremely remote locations, then the four Indian species of Monitor lizard, given their wide distribution, would be easier and cheaper to source. If the plant does not exist then it is just a deceitful piece of marketing used to dupe customers.” -D'Cruze Source

Bengal Monitor Lizard

Yellow Monitor Lizard

The trade of the Hatha Jodi could be a disaster for the monitors. Already a species of concern, the trade of these animals and their products is illegal, and their numbers are already a cause for worry. The sheer demand for the "root" (sometimes reaching prices of £200 GBP  apiece) could drive the species beyond the brink of recovery; during a single raid, wildlife officials removed over 210 Hatha Jodi from a single home. Being freely offered throughout India and online around the world, the lizards now face an immense pressure simply because their sexual organs are considered a good luck charm or holy relic. Authorities are now turning to public education to combat the problem; believing that most customers are simply unaware of the illegal harvesting, wildlife officials are hoping they can begin turning people away from the product.

 “I suspect that there are a few customers that do know that Hatha Jodi is actually monitor lizard hemipenis — as some online retails specifically state ‘this item is real Hatha Jodi – not fake’ but do not explain what real and or fake means. But I suspect that the majority simple buy the Hatha Jodi thinking that it is in fact a holy root. As I say more research focused on consumers is need to truly get to the bottom of this bizarre situation — including when this trend started.” -D'Cruze Source

 “This international illegal trade is of major concern for the continued survival of the lizard species involved. Both Bengal and Yellow Monitor lizards are protected under Indian and international law. But even a quick search reveals hundreds of items on sale, sometimes at prices over £200 GBP apiece. If left unchecked, this demand could grow to the extent that it pushes some wild populations over the edge. The product is freely available online and in shops across every major Hindu pilgrimage site in India.” -Aniruddha Mookerjee, lead investigator Source

Article Link: https://news.mongabay.com/

Image Links: 1, 2, 3, 4