Journal of Ethnobiology and

Ethnomedicine BioMed Central

Research Open Access

Animals and their products utilized as medicines by the inhabitants
surrounding the Ranthambhore National Park, India
Madan Mohan Mahawar*1 and DP Jaroli2

Address: 1Department of Zoology, Government Post Graduate College, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, India and 2Department of Zoology,
University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Email: Madan Mohan Mahawar* - [email protected]; DP Jaroli - [email protected]
* Corresponding author

Published: 03 November 2006 Received: 28 July 2006

Accepted: 03 November 2006
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006, 2:46 doi:10.1186/1746-4269-2-46
This article is available from: http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/2/1/46
© 2006 Mahawar and Jaroli; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract
The present ethnozoological study describes the traditional knowledge related to the use of
different animals and animal-derived products as medicines by the inhabitants of villages
surrounding the Ranthambhore National Park of India (Bawaria, Mogya, Meena), which is well
known for its very rich biodiversity. The field survey was conducted from May to July 2005 by
performing interviews through structured questionnaires with 24 informants (16 men and 8
women), who provided information regarding therapeutic uses of animals. A total of 15 animals and
animal products were recorded and they are used for different ethnomedical purposes, including
tuberculosis, asthma, paralysis, jaundice, earache, constipation, weakness, snake poisoning. The
zootherapeutic knowledge was mostly based on domestic animals, but some protected species like
the collared dove (Streptopelia sp.), hard shelled turtle (Kachuga tentoria), sambhar (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.

Background has made important contributions to understanding tra-

The healing of human ailments by using therapeutics ditional subsistence and medical knowledge and practice
based on medicines obtained from animals or ultimately [4]. But in India the traditional knowledge system is fast
derived from them is known as zootherapy [1]. As eroding due to urbanization. So there is an urgent need to
Marques states, "all human culture which presents a struc- inventorise and record all ethnobiological information
tured medical system will utilize animals as medicines" among the different ethnic communities before the tradi-
[2]. The use of animals for medicinal purposes is part of a tional cultures are completely lost [5]. A lot of work has
body of traditional knowledge which is increasingly been done in the Ranthambhore National Park on the
becoming more relevant to discussions on conservation medicinal plants & plant products and documented too,
biology, public health policies, sustainable management but there is a definite scarcity of such knowledge when it
of natural resources, biological prospection, and patents comes to animal products. Thus there is an urgent need to
[3]. Research interest and activities in the areas of ethno- make such study in the field of zootherapy and document
biology and ethnomedicine have increased tremendously it, so that it can be put to the welfare of human kind.
in the last decade. Since the inception of the disciplines, Therefore keeping this aspect in view, we have undertaken
scientific research in ethnobiology and ethnomedicine this study.

Page 1 of 5
(page number not for citation purposes)
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006, 2:46 http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/2/1/46

Study area Methodology

The Ranthambhore National Park (250 54' N – 260 12' N Data were obtained through field survey conducted from
and 760 22' E – 760 39' E) at the junction of the Aravalis May to July 2005 by performing interview through struc-
and the Vindhyas (mountain ranges) is a unique juxtapo- tured questionnaire with 24 selected people (Informants),
sition of natural richness, standing out conspicuously in to collect information about traditional knowledge
the vast, arid and denuded tract of eastern Rajasthan, regarding use of animals and their products. These
barely 14 kilometer from the town, Sawai Madhopur. informants were local herbalists, healers, farmers, and
Being a typical representative of dry-deciduous dhok (Ano- midwives. The Informants are between 40–74 age groups.
geissus pendula) forest, the vegetation of Ranthambhore is The selection of Informants was based on their recognition
considered as i) Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest and ii) Trop- as experts and knowledgeable members concerning folk
ical Thorn Forest [6]. The climate is dry-subtropical with medicine. We ask the informants whether they use ani-
four distinct seasons: summer (March to June), followed mals in the healing practices. Then we ask that which ani-
by monsoon (July-August), post-monsoon (September- mal remedies have been prescribes for which ailment. We
October) and winter (November-February). Average also ask the modes of preparation of remedies and how
annual rainfall of about 800 mm is received mostly during the medicines are administered, since this kind of infor-
July-September. From socio-cultural point of view, the mation indicates how a given medicine can be therapeuti-
region exhibits a great ethnic and cultural diversity. The cally efficient in terms of the right ingredients, the proper
present study was mainly conducted in the villages sur- dose, and the right length of preparation. According to
rounding Ranthambhore national park, Rajasthan (figure them, their knowledge of folk medicine was acquired
1). Most of the information was collected from Mogya and mainly through parental heritage, or because they have
Bawaria people, which are living around the national experience about medicinal value of animals to heal their
park. kin or themselves. The interviews were recorded and doc-
umented. All the animal species were identified by using
relevant and standard literature.

Result and discussion

The present study describes the traditional knowledge of
treating various kinds of disease using different animals
and their product by inhabitants (Bawaria, Mogya, Meena
etc) of villages surrounding the Ranthambhore National
Park of India. The information of all local names of the
animal, part or product used to cure and methods of prep-
aration were provided by the Informants. In this study, we
enlisted 15 animal species, which are being used for 20
medicinal purposes. These animals are used as whole or
body part or byproduct like milk, blood, organ, skeleton
etc. for the treatment of different kind of ailments includ-
ing tuberculosis, asthma, paralysis, jaundice, earache,
constipation, weakness, snake poison etc. (see table 1).

Since ancient times animals, their parts, and their prod-

ucts have constituted part of the inventory of medicinal
substances used in various cultures. This phenomenon is
marked by both a broad geographical distribution and
very deep historical origins [7]. In Pakistan, 31 substances
were listed (animal parts and products), constituting 9%
of all the medicinal substances in the inventory of tradi-
tional medicines [8]. Costa-Neto describes the use of 180
animal species as medicinal resources in the state of
Bahia, Northeastern Brazil [9]. A survey of traditional
materia medica in use in the markets of Israel recorded 20
substances of animal origin [25]. In the states of Mara-
Figure
Map of the
1 study area nhão and Paraíba (Northeast Brazil) a survey carried out
Map of the study areaxsxs. and recorded 100 animal species was used as medicine
[26]. Examination and research show that these sub-

Page 2 of 5
(page number not for citation purposes)
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006, 2:46 http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/2/1/46

Table 1: List of animals and their parts use for therapeutic purpose in the studied area.

English Name Scientific Name Local Name Part used No. of Informants Method of preparation and Related earlier reported use in
reporting the use medicinal use India [Ref.]

1. Indian ass Equs hemionus Gadha Dung 2 Dung kept in water and after one
day filtered water is given to cure
jaundice.
2. Cow Bos indicus Gai Urine 18 Weakness due to fever is cure by
drinking urine.
Urine 2 Given to cure cancer.
Dung + Milk 20 Muscle pain can relieve by smear of The Dried dung is burnt and ash is
dung and milk mixture. applied to treat utricaria in
Kachchh [15].
Ghee 5 250 gm Ghee + 100 gm Black
pepper mixture given orally to
neutralize snake poison.
3. Dog Canis familiaris Kukaro Urine 22 Used as eardrop for curing earache. Also reported by Naga tribe of
Nagaland [11].
4. Goat Capra indicus Bakri Urine 3 Urine of goat administered orally Reported by Ao [12] and Naga [11]
to cure tuberculosis. tribe for asthma, T.B., paralysis, and
by Tamilnadu tribe for insect bite
[13].
Milk 22 Mouth ulcer is treated by direct
spray of milk from breast of goat to
tongue of a patient.
5. Human Homo sapiens Manakh Urine 24 Human urine is used as antiseptic Also reported by Naga tribe of
for wound healing. Nagaland [11].
6. Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Mor Leg 5 Peacock's leg is rubbed with water Also reported by Naga tribe of
and this essenced water is used in Nagaland [11], Bhil of Rajasthan
ear infections [19]. Legs boil with oil in kachchh
[15] and Maharastra [17] for similar
purpose.
7. Pig Sus scrofa Soor Fat 12 Fat of pig is use as massage cream Also reported by Ao tribe of
in muscular pain. Nagaland [12], but fat of pig used
for Hemorrhoids in Tamilnadu
[13].
8. Sambhar Cervus unicolor Sambhar Antler 2 Antler is rubbed with water this Also reported in Kachchh of Gujrat
paste is applied in eye ailments. [15].
9. Sheep Capra sp. Menda Milk 23 Used as massage cream in muscular
pain.
10. House sparrow Passer domesticus Cheedi Fecal 20 Fecal matter is applied in the anus Ash of excreta is used for
of baby to treat constipation. treatment of asthma in children is
reported in Kchchh [15].
11. Pigeon Columba livia Kabutar Fresh blood 14 The fresh blood is massaged Same use reported in Kachchh [15]
externally to treat paralysis. and Tamilnadu [13].
12. Collared dove Streptopelia sp. Kamedii Flesh 3 To attain early puberty girls eat
flesh of collared dove.
13. Hardshelled Turtle. Kachuga tentoria Kachhua Carapace 7 Ash of carapace is used in lung Ash of Lissemys punctatus' Carapace
diseases as cough, asthma, T. B. etc. is used for healing of internal
injuries, pruritis and cough
(Kachchh) [15].
14. Honey bee Apis indica Mokh Honey 21 Used as eye drops to cure eye Honey is used for cough and could.
disease. (Tamilnadu tribes) [13] [16].
15. Bivalves Mactra sp. Seepi Shell 3 Shell of sepia is rubbed with
clarified butter (ghee) and red lead
(sindoor) to apply on acne to cure.

stances are similar to those used as remedies throughout iyar of Taminadu[16], Bhil, Gamit, Kokna etc of Maharas-
human history, irrespective of geographical borders [7]. tra[17], Assam[18], Bhil of Rajasthan[19], Dibrugarh
(Assam) [20]etc. has some or the other relevance with the
In India, nearly 15–20 percent of the Ayurvedic medicine animals that are found to be use by the Mogya, Bawaria,
is based on animal-derived substances. There are refer- Meena etc. residing in this part of India.
ences to nearly 380 types of animal substances in Charaka
Samhita [10]. The Hindu religion has used five products The use of urine drop of Canis familiaris against earache
(milk, urine, dung, curd and ghee) of the cow for purifica- has been also reported amongst the Naga tribe of Naga-
tion since ancient times [27]. Besides immense knowl- land [11]. The urine of Capra indicus has been also
edge has come down to modern times through folklore as reported by Ao and Naga tribes for asthma, T.B., paralysis,
various practices became a part of tradition amongst vari- [11,12] but the milk of this animal is use for mouth ulcer
ous groups in India (see table 2). Different animals used has never been reported earlier. Pavo cristatus' legs uses for
by the Naga tribe of Nagaland [11], Ao tribe of Naga- ear infection are also similar in Naga tribe of Nagaland
land[12], Irular, Kurimba of Tamilnadu[13], Chakhesang and Bhil of Rajasthan, [11,19] but Legs are boil with oil in
tribe of Nagaland[14], Kachch (Gujrat)[15], Kanikar, Pal- kachchh and Maharastra for similar purpose [15,17]. Ao

Page 3 of 5
(page number not for citation purposes)
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006, 2:46 http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/2/1/46

Table 2: Ethnomedicinal uses of animals reported from different parts of India.

Tribes/Ethnic Groups/Region/Indigenous people Number of animals Reported Authors Ref. No.

Assam 5 Dutta A (1996) [18]

Sporadic study in India 20 Gosh A K, Maiti P K (1996) [24]
Chakhesang of Nagaland 23 Kakati and Doulo (2000) [14]
Bhil of Rajasthan 17 Sharma S K (2002) [19]
Bhil, Gamit, Kokna etc of Maharastra 15 Patil S H (2003) [17]
Chhattisgarh 10 Oudhia P (2003) [23]
Chhattisgarh 7 Oudhia P (2003) [21]
Bhopalpatnam (chhattisgarh) 3 Oudhia P (2003) [22]
Kachch (Gujrat) 34 Gupta Leena et al (2003) [15]
Irular, Kurimba of Tamilnadu 26 Solvan A et al (2004) [13]
Kanikar, Paliyar of Taminadu 11 Ranjit Singh ASA (2004) [16]
Naga tribe of Nagaland 26 Jamir N S et al (2005) [11]
Dibrugarh (Assam) 4 Dilip Kalita (2005) [20]
Ao tribe of Nagaland 25 Kakati L N et al (2006) 12]
Mogya, Meena, Bawaria of Rajasthan 15 Mahawar, Jaroli (Present study)

tribe of Nagaland [12] also reports the fat of Sus scrofa in species like the collared dove (Streptopelia sp) (figure 2),
muscular pain, but in Tamilnadu this is used for Hemor- hard shelled turtle (Kachuga tentoria), sambhar (Cervus
rhoids [13]. The use of antler of cervus unicolor for eye ail- unicolor) are also included as important medicinal
ments and the fresh blood of columba livia for paralysis has resources in this studied area. Kakati and Doulo enlisted
been also reported in the Kachchh region of Gujarat [15]. six species as rare among twenty three species among Cha-
The use of fecal matter of Passer domesticus to treat baby khesang tribe of Nagaland[14]. Inadequate knowledge
constipation, but ash of excreta is used for treatment of and myths associated with the therapeutics like children
asthma in children is reported in Kachchh[15]. The flesh are made to wear beer's claw around their neck as it is sup-
of Streptopelia sp. to attain early puberty and dung of Equs pose to protect them from evil forces, similarly animals
hemionus to cure jaundice has never been reported earlier like sheep and goat are sacrifice to cause healing as this act
in India. Ash of Kachuga tentoria' carapace is used in lung is believe to please local gods. However such acts have
diseases as cough, asthma, T. B. etc. but Lissemys punctatus' cause harm to animal life. Thus there is a need to shift the
Carapace is used for healing of internal injuries, prurities focus from how to obtain the greatest amount of zoother-
and cough in Kachchh region [15]. apeutical resources to how to ensure future uses. There is
also a need for a transdisciplinary approach to integrate
Noteworthy is the observation that mostly animal the various aspects of zootherapy in such a way that
byproducts are used in traditional health care systems frameworks or methods to amalgamate ecological and
without any loss to animal. The therapeutic information's social components of that practice can be increasingly
is mostly based on domestic animals, but some protected tested [3]. So the traditional knowledge should be
included into the strategies of conservation and manage-
ment of faunistic resources [26]. Further studies are
required not only to confirm the presence of bioactive
compounds in these traditional remedies, but also to
emphasize more sustainable use of these resources.

References
1. Eraldo M, Costa-Neto : Animal based medicines biological
prospection and the sustainable use of zootherapeutic
resources. An Acad Bras Cienc 2005, 77(133-43 [http://www.sci
elo.br/pdf/aabc/v77n1/a04v77n1.pdf].
2. Marques JGW: A Fauna medicinal dos indios Kuna de Sen Blas
(Panama) e a hipotese da universalidade zooterapica. In
Paper presented at the 46th Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Society for the
Progress of Science Vitória (Brazil): Espírito Santo Federal University;
1994.
3. Alves RR, Rosa IL: Why study the use of animal products in tra-
ditional medicines? J Ethnobiol Ethnomedicine 2005, 1:5.
Figure 2dove
Collared 4. Andrea Pieroni, Lisa Price Leimar, Ina Vandebroek: Welcome to
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. Journal of Ethnobi-
Collared dove. ology and Ethnomedicine 2005, 1:1.
5. Trivedi PC: Ethnobotany: An overview. In Ethnobotany Edited by:
Trivedi PC. Jaipur: Aavishkar publisher; 2002:1.

Page 4 of 5
(page number not for citation purposes)
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006, 2:46 http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/2/1/46

6. Champion HG, Seth SK: The Forest Types of India New Delhi: The Man- 27. Simoons FJ: The purification rule of the five products of the
ager of Publications; 1968. cow in Hinduism. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 1974, 3:21-34.
7. Lev Efraim: Healing with animals in the Levant from the 10th
to the 18th century. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2006,
2:11.
8. Ali SAM, Mahdihassan S: Bazaar medicines of Karachi: The
drugs of animal origin. In Bazaar Drugs and Folk Medicine in Pakistan
Edited by: Mahdihassan S. Karachi: Hamdard; 1984:69-73.
9. Costa-Neto EM: Implications and applications of folk zoother-
apy in the state of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. Sustainable
Development 12(3):161-174. 30 Jun 2004
10. Unnikrisnhan PM: Animals in Ayurveda. Amruth 1998:1-15.
11. Jamir NS, Lal P: Ethnozoological practices among Naga tribes.
Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 2005, 4(1100-104 [http://
www.niscair.res.in/ScienceCommunication/ResearchJournals/rejour/
ijtk/ijtk2k5/ijtk_jan05.asp#a100].
12. Kakati LN, Bendang Ao, Doulo V: Indigenous Knowledge of
Zootherapeutic Use of Vertebrate Origin by the Ao Tribe of
Nagaland. J Hum Ecol 2006, 19(3163-167 [http://
72.14.235.10search?q=cache:_vWnHvnWoVAJ:www.krepublish-
ers.com/02-Jour nals/JHE/JHE-19-0-000-000-2006].
13. Solovan A, Paulmurugan R, Wilsanand V, Ranjith Sing AJA: Tradi-
tional therapeutic uses of animals among tribal population of
Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 2004,
3(2206-207 [http://www.niscair.res.in/ScienceCommunication/
ResearchJournals/rejour/ijtk/ijtk2k4/ijtk_apr04.asp#p9].
14. Kakati LN, Doulo V: Indigenous knowledge system of zoother-
apeutic use by Chakhesang tribe of Nagaland, India. J Hum
Ecol 2002, 13(6):419-423.
15. Gupta Leena, Silori CS, Mistry Nisha, Dixit AM: Use of Animals and
Animal products in traditional health care systems in Dis-
trict Kachchh, Gujarat. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge
2003, 2(1346-356 [http://www.niscair.res.in/ScienceCommunication/
ResearchJournals/rejour/ijtk/ijtk2k3/ijtk_oct03.asp#p4].
16. Ranjit Singh AJA, Padmalatha C: Ethno-entomologicalpractices in
Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Traditional
Knowledge 2004, 3(4442-446 [http://www.niscair.res.in/ScienceCom
munication/ResearchJournals/rejour/ijtk/ijtk2k4/ijtk_oct04.asp#p12].
17. Patil SH: Ethno-medico-zoological studies on Nandurbar dis-
trict of Maharashtra. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 2003,
2(3297-299 [http://www.niscair.res.in/ScienceCommunication/
ResearchJournals/rejour/ijtk/ijtk2k3/ijtk_jul03.asp#a12].
18. Dilip Kalita, Manashi Dutta, Nazim Islam Forid: Few plants and ani-
mal based folk medicines from Dibrugarh District, Assam.
Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 2005, 4(1):81-85.
19. Sharma SK: A Study on Ethnozoology of Southern Rajasthan
in Ethnobotany. In Ethnobotany Edited by: Trivedi PC. Jaipur: Aav-
ishkar Publisher; 2002:239-253.
20. Dilip Kalita, Manashi Dutta, Nazim Islam Forid: Few plants and ani-
mal based folk medicines from Dibrugarh District, Assam.
Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 2005, 4(181-85 [http://www.nis
cair.res.in/ScienceCommunication/ResearchJournals/rejour/ijtk/
ijtk2k5/ijtk_jan05.asp#a81].
21. Oudhia P: Traditional knowledge about medicinal insects,
mites and spiders in Chhattisgarh, India. Insect Environment
1995 [http://www.botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/
06_medicinal_insects.html].
22. Oudhia P: Interactions with the traditional healers and natives
of Bhopalpatnam region, Chhattisgarh, India having rich tra-
ditional medicinal knowledge about common herbs insects
and other animals. Research note at Botanical.com 2003 [http:// Publish with Bio Med Central and every
www.botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/121_bhopalpatnam.html].
23. Oudhia P: Traditional Medicinal knowledge about excreta of scientist can read your work free of charge
different animals used to treat many common diseases in "BioMed Central will be the most significant development for
Chhattisgarh, India. Research note at Botanical.com 2003 [http:// disseminating the results of biomedical researc h in our lifetime."
www.botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/40_animal_excreta.html].
24. Ghosh AK, Maiti PK: Investigation of Some Animal drugs Sir Paul Nurse, Cancer Research UK
(Mammals) used by the Tribal People in India. In Ethnobiology Your research papers will be:
in Human Welfare Edited by: Jain SK. New Delhi: Deep Publications;
1996:200-202. available free of charge to the entire biomedical community
25. Lev Efraim, Amar Z: Ethnopharmacological survey of tradi- peer reviewed and published immediately upon acceptance
tional drugs sold in Israel at the end of the 20th century. Jour-
nal of Ethnopharmacology 2000, 72:191-205. cited in PubMed and archived on PubMed Central
26. Rômulo Alves RN, Ierecê Rosa L: cnidarians to mammals: The yours — you keep the copyright
use of animals as remedies in fishing communities in NE Bra-
zil. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2006. Submit your manuscript here: BioMedcentral
http://www.biomedcentral.com/info/publishing_adv.asp

Page 5 of 5
(page number not for citation purposes)