Image credits - Kelly Hopping
High-quality pieces of caterpillar fungus sold for more than $140,000 per kilogram in Beijing in 2017, more than three times the price of gold. Image credits- Kelly Hopping.
The Himalayan Gold also known as Cordyceps Fungus which is 3 times more expensive than gold comes under Vulnerable Category in IUCN Red Data Book. The IUCN released the list on 13.07.2020 with 120,000 species on the list, Out of them 32,441 are on the verge of extinction. Cordyceps is Under Vulnerable Category.
Vulnerable species are the one which are likely to become endangered because of unfavorable conditions which are threat to their Survival.
 The Scientific name of Cordyceps is Opicordyceps Sinensis. Cordyceps is known by various other names like the Himalayan viagra, Chinese Caterpillar Fungus, Keeda jadi, yartsa gunbu, yarsagumba. Cordyceps have  high medicinal value because of their aphrodisiac and rejuvenation properties. It is believed that this Fungus cures Asthma, Impotence and cancer. The Fungus usually show Parasitic Relationship with a Caterpillar larva. 
  • The Cordyceps fungus spores attack a Caterpillar larva underground. 
  • The spores invade inside the Body of Caterpillar.
  • Then the spores Grow inside the Body of Caterpillar and kill it by eating inside out (Mummification).
  •  A mushroom like structure sprouts out from the head of Caterpillar.

Cordyceps Fungus Sprouting out from the head of Caterpillar. Image credits-Daniel Winkler
 The Fungus is mainly used in China and Tibetan areas that's why it is also called as Tibetan Fungus. In past times the fungus was harvested only in Tibetan areas but after the over exploitation of the fungus in the Tibetan area it became less available That's why after 2002 the Harvest and trade of Cordyceps fungus started in India.
  • This Fungus is banned in India for use. Passes are issued every year only to harvester  for harvesting fungus but still this fungus is being illegally traded in india.
This creature is incredibly rare it appears only for 3 weeks each year in remote areas  with high altitude (3000m-5000m) in the  villages of Uttrakhand, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibetan plateau and China (mainly in Yushu). The per kg price of Fungus is $100,000 and per gram price is $100. 
  • One of the amazing fact about The Himalayan Viagra is that it cannot be cultured in Laboratory.

The tibetan tribal collecting Cordyceps fungus. The Cordyceps fungus grow underground when the full land is covered with snow and when snow melts it sprouts out, but due to global warming the temperature is rising which is not allowing the fungus to grow.
 Many of the Himalayan Families are dependent on this Fungus for their living and it contributes about 56% of their annual income but because of its Overharvesting and Global warming  in recent years the availability of the fungus has fallen short and in the coming times it might become extinct so that's why it is placed in IUCN Vulnerable Category. So from 2020 i.e from now there will be more restriction on the Cordyceps harvesting & trade but the bad thing about this is that so many Himalayan families have lost their means to earn their livelihood.