Abstract

N. Mishra , S. D. Rout and T. Panda *

This paper documents zootherapeutic practices in Similipal Biosphere Reserve of Mayurbhanj district, Orissa, India. It is primarily based on field surveys carried out in villages, where dwellers provided information on animal species used as medicine, body parts used to prepare the remedies, and the illnesses to which the remedies were prescribed. The dominant tribes involved in using animal parts as medicines in the district are Santhal, Kol, Bhumija, Bhuyan, Mahalis, Sounti and Saharas. The animal parts, namely, blood, excreta, feather and hair were used in raw or cooked forms for the treatment of piles, asthma, skin diseases, fever and rheumatism.The species used as medicinal drug and their respective families were: Bos gaurus gaurus(Mammalia), Buceros bicormis (Bucerotidae), Crocodylus palustris (Crocodilidae), Pavo cristatus(Phasianidae), Hystrix indica (Rodentia), Pterocarpus giganteus (Chiroptera) and Sus scorofacristatus (Mammalia).These zootherapeutical resources were used for the cure of 12 illnesses.