TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THERAPEUTIC USES OF ANIMAL RESOURCE AMONG INDIGENOUS TRIBAL COMMUNITIES IN WAYANAD DISTRICT, KERALA STATE, INDIA

Ethnozoology is a hybrid discipline that integrates both the natural and social science that examines the historical, sociological, anthropological, economical and environmental aspects of the relationships between humans and animals. The present study was intended to seek animal based resources with medicinal uses in the traditional healing system among the indigenous tribal communities in Wayanad District, Kerala State, India. Field survey was carried out from November 2016 to March 2017 by personal interviews through semi-structured questionnaires with tribal elders, healers and tribal families. The study recorded a total of 29 different species which are used for the treatment of 51 different ailments. Chordata occupied the highest uses (76%), followed by Arthropoda (10.3 %), Mollusca (6.8%) and Annelida (6.8%). Among Chordata, Mammals occupied a highest number of animals (44.8%), followed by Aves (10.3%), Reptiles (10.3%), Fish (6.8%), and Amphibians (3.4%). The findings showed that the traditional knowledge of animal derived medicines followed by tribal communities in Wayanad play an important role in their primary health care. The documentation of this indigenous traditional knowledge on ethnobiology will be helpful in the formulation of strategies for sustainable management and conservation of bio-resources as well as providing potential for the novel drug discovery.