ETHNOZOOLOGICAL PRACTICES AMONG THE INHABITANTS OF DARJEELING HILLS OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA
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Published
Oct 17, 2020
Page:
9-18
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SONI CHHETRI
Department of Zoology, Darjeeling Government College, Darjeeling-734101, West Bengal, India.
DAWA BHUTIA
Department of Zoology, Darjeeling Government College, Darjeeling-734101, West Bengal, India.
RUJAS YONLE
Department of Zoology, Darjeeling Government College, Darjeeling-734101, West Bengal, India.
YUVRAJ GURUNG
Department of Zoology, Darjeeling Government College, Darjeeling-734101, West Bengal, India.
Abstract
Use of plants and animals in traditional medicines for healing practices has been common since time immemorial by the people all over the world, and the people of India too are no exception. Darjeeling Himalayan region is characterised by a rich diversity of ethnomedicinal plants as well as rich heritage of traditional medicine practices. This paper aims to document traditional methods of treating various kinds of ailments using different vertebrates and invertebrates and /or their by-products by the ethnic inhabitants of Darjeeling hills. A survey on 89 households of different villages were conducted through interviews via questionnaire. In this study, a total of 26 different animals identified were used in 33 different categories of medicinal or other religious purposes. This traditional ethnozoological knowledge is fast losing its importance on younger generation and is in urgent need to document and preserve before it perishes along with the elders.
Keywords:
Ethnozoology, zootherapy, ethnic, remedies, Darjeeling hills
Article Details
How to Cite
CHHETRI, S., BHUTIA, D., YONLE, R., & GURUNG, Y. (2020). ETHNOZOOLOGICAL PRACTICES AMONG THE INHABITANTS OF DARJEELING HILLS OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA. UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, 41(14), 9-18. Retrieved from https://mbimph.com/index.php/UPJOZ/article/view/1674
Section
Short Research Article
References
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Jaroli DP, Maharwar MM, Vyas N. An ethnozoological study in the adjoining areas of Mount Abu wildlife sanctuary, India. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2010;6:6. DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-6-6
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Costa-Neto EM. Animal- based medicine. Biological prospection and the sustainable use of zootherapeutic resources. Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences. 2005;77(1):33-44.
Mahawar MM, Jaroli DP. Traditional zootherapeutic studies in India: A review. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2008;4:17. DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-4-17
Rai SK, Bhujel RB. Notes on some less known ethnomedicinal plants from the Darjeeling Himalayas. Journal of Hill Research. 1999;12(2):160-163.
Das AP, Ghosh C, Sarkar A, Biswas R. Ethnobotanical studies in India with notes on Terai-Duars and hills of Darjiling and Sikkim. NBU Journal of Plant Science. 2007;1:67-83.
Yonzone R, Bhujel RB, Rai S. Genetic resources, current ecological status and altitude wise distribution of medicinal plants diversity of Darjeeling Himalaya of West Bengal, India. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 2012;12:S439-S445.
Pandey A. Use of animal as traditional medicine in India. Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology. 2015;1(3):48-52.
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Lohani U. Eroding ethnozoological knowledge among Magars in Central Nepal. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2011;10(3):466-473.
Lohani U. Zootherapeutic knowledge of two ethnic populations from Central Nepal. Studies on Ethno-Medicine. 2012;6(1):45-53.
Solanki GS, Chutia P. Ethnozoological and sociocultural aspects of Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh. Journal of Human Ecology. 2004;15(4):251-254.
Sharma SK. A study on ethnozoology of Southern Rajasthan. In Ethnobotany, Edited by: Trivedi PC. Jaipur: Aavishkar Publisher. 2002;239-253.
Gupta Leena, Silori CS, Mistry Nisha, Dixit AM. Use of animals and animal products in traditional health care systems in District Kachchh, Gujarat. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2003;2(1):346-356.
Patil SH. Ethno-medico-zoological studies on Nandurbar district of Maharashtra. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2003;2(3): 297-299.
Kakati LN, Bendang Ao, Doulo V. Indigenous knowledge of zootherapeutic use of vertebrate origin by the Ao Tribe of Nagaland. Journal of Human Ecology. 2006;19(3):163-167.
Kakati LN, Doulo V. Indigenous knowledge system of zootherapeutic use by Chakhesang tribe of Nagaland, India. Journal of Human Ecology. 2002;13(6):419-423.
Solovan A, Paulmurugan R, Wilsanand V, Ranjith Sing AJA. Traditional therapeutic uses of animals among tribal population of Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2004;3(2):206-207.
Ranjit Singh AJA, Padmalatha C. Ethno-entomological practices in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2004;3(4):442-446.
Kumar MS, Singh AJA, Ranjit, Alagumuthu G. Traditional beekeeping of stingless bee (Trigona spp) by Kani Tribes of Western Ghats, Tamilnadu, India. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2012;11(2):342-345.
Emery KF. Assessing the impact of ancient Maya animal use. Journal for Nature Conservation. 2007;15:184-195.
Masson MA, Peraza LC. Animal uses at the post classic Mya centre of Mayapan. Quaternary International. 2008;191:170-183.
Jaroli DP, Maharwar MM, Vyas N. An ethnozoological study in the adjoining areas of Mount Abu wildlife sanctuary, India. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2010;6:6. DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-6-6
Biswa R, Sarkar A, Khewa SS. Ethnomedicinal uses of honey of stingless bee by Nepali community of Darjeeling foothills of West Bengal, India. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2017;16(4):648-653.
Costa-Neto EM. Animal- based medicine. Biological prospection and the sustainable use of zootherapeutic resources. Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences. 2005;77(1):33-44.
Mahawar MM, Jaroli DP. Traditional zootherapeutic studies in India: A review. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2008;4:17. DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-4-17
Rai SK, Bhujel RB. Notes on some less known ethnomedicinal plants from the Darjeeling Himalayas. Journal of Hill Research. 1999;12(2):160-163.
Das AP, Ghosh C, Sarkar A, Biswas R. Ethnobotanical studies in India with notes on Terai-Duars and hills of Darjiling and Sikkim. NBU Journal of Plant Science. 2007;1:67-83.
Yonzone R, Bhujel RB, Rai S. Genetic resources, current ecological status and altitude wise distribution of medicinal plants diversity of Darjeeling Himalaya of West Bengal, India. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 2012;12:S439-S445.
Pandey A. Use of animal as traditional medicine in India. Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology. 2015;1(3):48-52.
Das KS, Choudhury S, Nonglait KC. Zootherapy among the ethnic groups of North eastern region of India-A critical review. Journal of Critical Reviews. 2017;4(2):1-9.
Mahawar MM, Jaroli, DP. Animals and their products utilized as medicines by the inhabitants surrounding the Ranthambhore National Park, India. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2006;2:46. DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-2-46
Mahawar MM, Jaroli DP. Traditional knowledge on zootherapeutic uses by the Saharia tribe of Rajasthan, India. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2007;3:25. DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-3-25
Jamir NS, Lal P. Ethnozoological practices among Naga tribe. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2005;4(1):100-104.
Jugli S, Chakravorty J, Meyer‑Rochow VB. Zootherapeutic uses of animals and their parts: An important element of the traditional knowledge of the Tangsa and Wancho of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, North‑East India. Environment, Development and Sustainability. 2020;22:4699-4734. Available:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-019-00404-6
Devi BO, Devi LR, Singh WM, Devi AR. Traditional medicines and health care from the animals of Manipur, India. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications. 2015;5(11):417[422.
Oudhia P. Traditional knowledge about medicinal insects, mites and spiders in Chhattisgarh, India. Insect Environment; 1995. Available:http://www.botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/ 06_medicinal_insects.html
Verma AK, Prasad SB, Rongpi T, Arjun J. Traditional healing with animals (zootherapy) by the major ethnic group of Karbi Anglong district of Assam, India. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2014;6(8):593-600.
Lohani U. Eroding ethnozoological knowledge among Magars in Central Nepal. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2011;10(3):466-473.
Lohani U. Zootherapeutic knowledge of two ethnic populations from Central Nepal. Studies on Ethno-Medicine. 2012;6(1):45-53.
Solanki GS, Chutia P. Ethnozoological and sociocultural aspects of Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh. Journal of Human Ecology. 2004;15(4):251-254.
Sharma SK. A study on ethnozoology of Southern Rajasthan. In Ethnobotany, Edited by: Trivedi PC. Jaipur: Aavishkar Publisher. 2002;239-253.
Gupta Leena, Silori CS, Mistry Nisha, Dixit AM. Use of animals and animal products in traditional health care systems in District Kachchh, Gujarat. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2003;2(1):346-356.
Patil SH. Ethno-medico-zoological studies on Nandurbar district of Maharashtra. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2003;2(3): 297-299.
Kakati LN, Bendang Ao, Doulo V. Indigenous knowledge of zootherapeutic use of vertebrate origin by the Ao Tribe of Nagaland. Journal of Human Ecology. 2006;19(3):163-167.
Kakati LN, Doulo V. Indigenous knowledge system of zootherapeutic use by Chakhesang tribe of Nagaland, India. Journal of Human Ecology. 2002;13(6):419-423.
Solovan A, Paulmurugan R, Wilsanand V, Ranjith Sing AJA. Traditional therapeutic uses of animals among tribal population of Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2004;3(2):206-207.
Ranjit Singh AJA, Padmalatha C. Ethno-entomological practices in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2004;3(4):442-446.
Kumar MS, Singh AJA, Ranjit, Alagumuthu G. Traditional beekeeping of stingless bee (Trigona spp) by Kani Tribes of Western Ghats, Tamilnadu, India. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2012;11(2):342-345.