Abstract

Dr. Neelima Bagde* and Dr. Shampa Jain

ABSTRACT

The present ethnozoological study describes the traditional knowledge related to the use of different animals and animal-derived products as medicines by the tribes and Rural people of Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh, India (Gond, Bharia, Mawasi, Ahir), which is well known for its very rich biodiversity. The field survey was conducted from May to July 2016 by performing interviews through structured questionnaires with 25 informants (16 men and 9 women), who provided information regarding therapeutic uses of animals. A total of 18 animals and animal products were recorded and they are used for different ethnomedical purposes, including tuberculosis, asthma, rheumatism, cough and cold, paralysis, cancer, allergy, fit, piles, leprosy, dysentery, fever, diarrhoea, weakness, and antidote. The zootherapeutic knowledge was mostly based on non-chordate and chordate animals, but some protected species like the Pea fowl (Pavo cristatus), S?mbhar (Cervus unicolor) were also mentioned as important medicinal resources. We would suggest that this kind of neglected traditional knowledge should be included into the strategies of conservation and management of faunistic resources in the investigated area.