An Ethnozoological Study of Traditional Medicinal Animals used to treat Human and Livestock Ailments in Ginnir District East Bale Zone Oromia National Regional State Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia, many ethnic communities use traditional medicine for primary health care. Indigenous medicinal practice is being neglected and continues to be lost due to poor documentation as they are transferred from generation to generation through oral tradition. Thus, this study aimed to carry out animal-based traditional medicinal uses in the Ginnir district, Eastern Bale Zone, south East Ethiopia. A purposive sampling method was carried out from December 2023 to March, 2024. The data were collected through semi-structured questionnaire and interview from 112 selected respondents. Descriptive statistics was employed for the analysis of data. A total of 33 medicinal animals species were reported to be used to treat 34 ailments. Out of these 57.58% were mammals followed by 15.15% of reptiles and birds. Of 33 medicinal animals five of them were used to treat both human and animals ailments. The most frequently used animals parts were external body parts (42.86%) followed by products (19.05% and) excreta were the least. The most commonly used applications of medicinal animal were tying (37.5%) followed by eating (20%) and drinking (7.5%). The skin of a hyena used to treat evil eyes and bad spirit has the highest fidelity level 100%, whereas lesser kudu has the lowest fidelity level (22.2%) used to treat evil spirit and chill. The ICF values were varied from 0.7 up to 1. Animal-derived medicines are an alternative source of medicine to treat various ailments both in rural and urban the study area. Different illegal practices like hunting today are a big pressure on many animal species, a cause of habitat degradation, increase the vulnerability of wild animals, and affect the knowledge of practitioners on traditional medicinal animals. Further research should be done to test the products scientifically for product development and design effective conservation and management strategies.