Volume 162, 13 March 2015, Pages 296–305
Research Paper
Ethnozoological study of animals used by traditional healers in Silent Valley of Kerala, India
Abstract
Aim of study
India
has great biodiversity of fauna. The use of fauna with medicinal
properties is a common practice since pre-hispanic times. In the last
decade, there has been an interest in ethnozoological studies in India.
Ethnozoological studies are necessary in order to discover new
medications for human health. There is urgency in recording such data.
This is the first ethnozoological study in which statistical
calculations about animals are done by the ICF method in Kerala, India.
The purpose of this study is to analyze and record traditional knowledge
of animals utilized by the indigenous people living on Silent Valley,
located in Palakkad district of Kerala, India and to document the
traditional names, preparation and uses of these animals.
Materials and methods
Field
study was carried out for a period of September 2011 to August 2012
years in Kerala. The ethnomedicinal information was collected through
interviews, informal meetings, open and group discussions and overt
observations with semi-structured questionnaires among traditional
healers. The collected data were analyzed through informant consensus
factor (ICF) and fidelity level (FL).
Results
This
study recorded a total of 57 families, 66 genera, and 69 species of
animals that produced 163 methods for usages. Mammalian occupied 29% of
the total animals listed, followed by aves (28%), insects (17%),
reptiles (10%), actinopterygii (4%), malacostraca, amphibians and
clitellata (each 3%), chilopoda (2%) and gastropoda (1%) of the whole,
respectively. In regards to usage, 68 species utilized as food products
and medicinal uses, totaled 98.55% followed by one species for cosmetics
(1.45%).
Conclusion
This study
indicated that the animals are still being used by the local healers of
Palakkad district, to treat various illnesses. The empirical knowledge
reported in this study will provide outstanding possibilities for the
discovery of new sources of medicine for the drug industry.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Ethnozoology;
- Traditional healers;
- Silent Valley;
- Zootherapy;
- Informant consensus factor (ICF);
- Fidelity level (FL)
- Corresponding author.
- 1
- Tel.:
+91 9003311921.
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