A Global Overview of Carnivores Used in Traditional Medicines

Alves, Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega; Pinto, Lorena Cristina Lana; Barboza, Raynner Rilke Duarte; Souto, Wedson Medeiros Silva; Oliveira, Ronnie Enderson Mariano Carvalho Cunha; Vieira, Washington Luiz Silva

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-29026-8_9

Cited by 16 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…South Africa was treated separately to Southern Africa because: (i) every wild lion population in the country is growing [ 2 ]; (ii) the captive lion population there is >50% larger than the wild population [ 5 ]; (iii) <5% of lions that are hunted in South Africa are of wild origin [ 5 , 13 , 14 ], hence most trophy hunting targets lions bred in captivity; (iv) all wild populations are in fenced reserves [ 2 ]; (v) incidents of illegal offtake and poaching in national and private reserves are rare and not believed to be a notable contributor of illegally obtained body parts in the country [ 5 ]; (vi) in 2015 we published a major study documenting the South African trade in lion bones and body parts [ 5 – 7 ]; and (vii) our detailed study of South Africa generated sufficient circumstantial evidence on trade in wild animals to suggest the necessity for detailed lion bone and parts trade studies in various southern and eastern African countries–by their nature requiring separate effort. Furthermore, since most respondents had information for South Africa ( Fig 2 ), the results would have obscured those for other Southern Africa countries where some monitored populations are in decline (even though the sub-regional population is increasing overall), where most sport hunting involves wild-origin lions, where some populations are not in fenced reserves, and where poaching and “indiscriminate retaliatory or pre-emptive killing to protect humans and livestock” [ 2 ] is fairly commonplace.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Questionnaire survey of the pan-African trade in lion body parts

et al. 2017

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The African lion is in decline across its range, and consumptive utilisation and trade of their body parts and skins has been postulated as a cause for concern. We undertook a pan-African questionnaire and literature survey to document informed opinion and evidence for the occurrence of domestic and international trade and consumption in African lion body parts across current and former range states. Sixty-five people from 18 countries participated in the online questionnaire survey (run from July 2014 to May 2015), with information provided for 28 countries (including 20 out of 24 countries believed to have extant populations). Respondents were experts within their professional spheres, and 77% had ≥6 years relevant experience within lion conservation or allied wildlife matters. Their opinions revealed wide sub-regional differences in consumptive use, drivers of trade, and access to lions that impact wild lion populations in different ways. Traditional medicine practices (African and Asian) were perceived to be the main uses to which lion body parts and bones are put domestically and traded internationally, and there is reason for concern about persistent imports from former lion range states (mainly in West Africa) for parts for this purpose. The domestic, rather than international, trade in lion body parts was perceived to be a bigger threat to wild lion populations. Parts such as skin, claws, teeth and bones are thought to be in most demand across the continent. The impact of international trade on wild populations was acknowledged to be largely unknown, but occasionally was judged to be ‘high’, and therefore vigilance is needed to monitor emerging detrimental impacts. Seventeen countries were nominated as priorities for immediate monitoring, including: South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Reasons for their selection include: prevalence of trophy hunting, ‘hot spots’ for poaching, active domestic trade in lion body parts, trade in curios for the tourist market, and histories of legal-illegal wildlife trade. This survey, and increased incident reports since mid-2015 of lion poisoning and poaching in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa, and sporadic poaching events in Uganda and Tanzania, are signalling an escalating trend in the trade of lion products that is an increasing threat to some national populations. The evidence is sufficient to make more detailed investigation of this trade a conservation priority.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…quantities) in order to focus on the results of the pan-African survey. Furthermore, CITES published a comprehensive report on the status of African lions in 2014 that included an analysis of the scale and proportion of legal trade [ 14 ].…”

Section: Literature Summationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Questionnaire survey of the pan-African trade in lion body parts

et al. 2017

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“…Similarly, Bile and fat of Ursus arctos (Brown bear/Denmo) are used to treat pulmonary affliction and treatment of bone and joint pain. Alves et al [46] reported that body parts of same species effective in convulsion, improving eyesight, reducing pain and inflammation, as well as fever. Meat of Camelus bactrianus (Double-hump camel/Nabong) is used to gain body strength and vitality, and its milk is a sexual stimulant and antidote to various insect poisons.…”

Section: Medicinal Uses Of Animal Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traditional Usage of Wild Fauna among the Local Inhabitants of Ladakh, Trans-Himalayan Region

Haq

Calixto

Yaqoob

et al. 2020

Animals

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Zootherapy is accepted all around the globe not only in ancient cultures but different animal derived medicines are also part of the practice in the modern health care systems. The present study assessed the traditional ethnozoological usage of wild animals by local inhabitants in Ladakh region, India, and the reference data for scientific approaches for protection of faunal diversity in trans-Himalayas. The ethnozoological documentation of the animals in Ladakh was carried out through semistructured and close-ended questionnaire surveys and interviews. Multivariate ecological community analysis was used to elucidate the relationship between ethnozoological usage and animal species. Our results showed three animal usage clusters with 32% similarity. Moreover, the similarity in animal usage between digging tools, trophy, handle of tools, decoration, and matting, showed less than 32% of similarity. The highest priority of local people was for food followed by decoration and medicinal usage. The most frequently used animal parts were meat followed by fur and horn. Medicinal uses of 48% of the reported species, i.e., Alectoris chukar (chukar), Cuon alpinus (Asiatic wild dog), Lepus oiostolus (hares), Marmota himalayana (marmots), Ovis aries vignei (Ladakh urial), Pantholops hodgsonii (Tibetan antelope), Procapra picticaudata (Tibetan gazelle), Pseudois nayaur (blue sheep), Tetraogallus himalayensis (Himalayan snow), Tetraogallus tibetanus (Tibetan snow cock), and Lutra lutra (common otter) were reported for the first time from this region. Our study provides innovative information regarding the ethnozoological knowledge in the Ladakh region and reference data for policymakers, researchers, land managers, common public, and the other stakeholders to develop logical and scientific approaches for sustainable use of faunal diversity in hotspot regions like trans-Himalayas and other similar biodiversity-rich sites.

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“…In Latin America, at least 584 animal species have been reported as being used in traditional medicinal practices (Alves and Alves, 2011). Worldwide, at least 284 reptiles and 47 amphibians (Alves et al, 2013g), 110 primates (Alves et al, 2013e), 108 mammalian carnivores (Alves et al, 2013d), and 266 marine invertebrates (Alves et al, 2013c) are used in popular medicines. Research in 25 African countries has shown that at least 354 bird species are used there in traditional curing practices (Table 13.1).…”

Section: Traditional Medicinementioning

confidence: 99%