A research published in the journal Science has unveiled that a newly discovered fungus from Asia could bring an end to salamander species and lead to North American biodiversity crisis. Therefore, scientists have been asking to levy a ban on importing salamanders as pets.

Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco State University have asked the US Fish and Wildlife Service to ban the important till the time scientists come up with a plan to detect the fungus and prevent it from spreading into wild salamander population in America.

In 2013, the fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, was discovered. This fungus has resulted into 96% fatality rate in European salamander species. Now, the researchers have stated that the same thing can take place in the US.

From 2010 to 2014, around three-quarters of a million salamanders were imported and a majority of them have been imported from Asia where the fungus is thought to have originated. Salamanders are traded across borders, said the researchers.

The researchers have affirmed that scientists have been lobbying a ban in the US, but the government is not acting actively in this matter. SF State biologist Vance Vredenburg stated that there is an imminent threat and a policy at this time could have a positive impact and a major catastrophe could be prevented.