ETHNOZOOLOGY IN THE TRIBAL WELFARE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND ORISSA

In a developing country like India it is extremely difficult for an ordinary citizen to afford medicine, especially in prolonged diseases. Even if with difficulty we can extend the medical facilities, how many have the capacity for the post-care after the discharge from hospitals. All of us know that there are a number of indigenous medicines which if readily made available can be utilized with advantage. The ordinary citizens can afford these medicines; besides they are time-proven and practically without any side effects. The ethnozoological survey of Madhya Pradesh and Orissa has shown vast potential in developing indigenous medicines from animals. When these medicines are to be produced on a large scale, it will automatically generate employment. There is not much to gain by simply saying that we have to uplift the tribals. On the contrary we should find ways and means to achieve our goal. Large scale production of tribal medicines is one of such ways. And the ideal place to start such factories is the tribal areas. It is because the raw material required is animals that can easily be reared or cultured in their areas rather than in cities. Most of these animals used for medicines can also be used for food, which contain precious animal protein. Intelligent exploitation of these animals can provide the much needed protein food for


INTRODUCTION
In a developing country like India it is extremely difficult for an ordinary citizen to afford medicine, especially in prolonged diseases. Even if with difficulty we can extend the medical facilities, how many have the capacity for the post-care after the discharge from hospitals. All of us know that there are a number of indigenous medicines which if readily made available can be utilized with advantage. The ordinary citizens can afford these medicines; besides they are time-proven and practically without any side effects. The ethnozoological survey of Madhya Pradesh and Orissa has shown vast potential in developing indigenous medicines from animals. When these medicines are to be produced on a large scale, it will automatically generate employment. There is not much to gain by simply saying that we have to uplift the tribals. On the contrary we should find ways and means to achieve our goal. Large scale production of tribal medicines is one of such ways. And the ideal place to start such factories is the tribal areas. It is because the raw material required is animals that can easily be reared or cultured in their areas rather than in cities. Most of these animals used for medicines can also be used for food, which contain precious animal protein. Intelligent exploitation of these animals can provide the much needed protein food for 320 Records of the Zoological Survey of India the tribals as well as for others. The flesh of many of these animals has a ready market and some of them are delicacies. Besides, their hides can be utilised in leather industry and skeleton in bone meal industry. So what I want to stress is that side by side with the development of these areas we also stand to gain much benefit, or rather there is an all round development of the country. In other words mutual help is more beneficial than one-way traffic.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
A detailed data sheet on ethnozoology was prepared to ascertain the utility of animal parts as medicine, food, fertilizers, fuel and dye; their role in witchcraft, astrology or forecasting, mechanical uses, ornamental uses, decorative purposes and industrial uses; their application in omen, folklore, myths and totems and taboos; and their role as harmful animals, pests, vectors, baits and .pets. I gave field training to a team of four scientists from 4th to 27th November 1982 for systematically collecting field data. For the survey the 'Tribal Map of India' (based on 1961 census) showing the distribution of tribes compiled by the Anthropological Survey of India, Calcutta and the 'Annexure to the Tribal Map of India' by Gohain (1971) were found extremely useful. Data were collected from different villages of the same district and from different tribes living in the same village. Mostly the data were collected from the tribals living in the mid of forest and they were compared with the data collected from the same communities living near urban areas. It has shown the impact of urban culture on tribals.
Madhya Pradesh was selected for the first survey because it has the largest tribal population in India. According to 1981 census, it has 52.18 million people, of which 11.99 million are tribals. It means that 22.97% of the population is tribals. This state was surveyed from 4th November 1982 to 4th April 1983. Of the forty-five districts, forty-one were surveyed, the details of which are given below in the order of dates of survey:  -23.iii. 1983 Dhanwar, Gond, 25. iii. 1983Khairwar, Oraon, Saur Binjhwar, Kondh, 27-28.iii. Korwa, Oraon 1983 iii. to Kawar, Nagesia, 2.iv.1983 Oraon Bhopal, Damoh, Sagar and Rajnandan districts were not surveyed as the tribals are sparsely distributed there. According to Ali (1973) there are 58 classified tribes in Madhya Pradesh, of which we have come across only 39tribes.
For the second survey Orissa was selected. According to 1981 census, its population "is 26.37 Jmillion, of which 5.92 mUlion are tribals. It means that 22.43% of the population is tribals. It was surveyed from 5th August to 25th September 1983 and the details are given below in the order of dates of survey as in the case of Madhya Pradesh :  1983 11-13. viii. 1983 Records of the ZDological Survey of India Of the thirteen districts of Orissa, in Cuttack and Ganjam the tribals are sparsely distributed and the party could not collect worthwhile data. In the constitution of India 62 Scheduled Tribes have been recognised from the state, of which we have come across only 25 tribes.

DATA
The ethnozoological survey has revealed that there are 894 applications of drugs derived from various animals in Madhya Pradesh and 23~ applications in Orissa. Of these, those that have wider applications are given below in tabular form ; Flesh or mUk consumed. Urine orally administered. Droppings roasted on fire' and fumes passed into a closed room where the patient is made to lie. Goat tied by the bed side of the patient (it is said that the s:nell of excreta is helpful in cure). Droppings used in different ways : dried, burnt, dissolved in water and applied; burnt andfumes passed over affected parts" etc. Intestine adminiitered in different ways. Fat consumed, or massaged, or both simultaneously done.   Ear complaints Pao cristatus L.

Contd. 3
3 2. BIRDS Feather roasted, powdered, dissolved in mustard oil or water and used as ear drops. Feather roasted, powdered, dissolved in honey and orally administered. Bone or lower part of foot powdered and dissolved in water, oil, breast milk, or lemon juice and used as ear drops. Bone of foot boiled in oil and used as ear drops (more commonly iIi mustard oil). Feather roasted, powdered, dissolved in water, milk, honey, ghee, etc., sometimes to which is added pepper, cardamum powder, or onion, etc. and taken.
Blood orally administered. Blood massaged on affected part. Blood massaged along with flesh consumed. Blood and flesh consumed. Juice from flesh extracted and consumed. Feather used to fan on affected part.  and Chitra sp.

Contd. 3 3
Fat mixed with the fat of wild boar and massaged.
Head kept in contact with rectum. Head ground in water and applied. Head dried, roasted and orally administered. Head crushed in castor oil and applied externally. Carapace kept in contact. Carapace ground in water and applied. Carapace roasted on bonfire and fumes passed on anal region.      Flesh of these animals are used as food by most of the tribals. Goat milk is drunk by all. Skins of barasinga, goat, tiger, monitor lizard, etc. are widely used for making sandals, vessels for fetching water, etc. A number of them like peacock, pigeon, sambar, barasinga, etc. are kept as pets. Among these animals goat is the most widely used one for sacrifice. For entertainment, goat fights and pigeon fights are often arranged.
It is only appropriate to point out the important industrial uses of these animals to show how the rearing of such animals will be beneficial to both tribals as well as others.
Food: Goat milk is commonly drunk ; the goat is called the poor man's cow. Meat of barasinga, bat, goat, porcupine, sambar, wild boar, peacock, pigeon, monitor lizard, tortoise, turtle and crab is eaten. Qf these, the meat of sambar, turtle, wild boar and crab is known for its delicacy. Venison or deer meat is easily digested and is recommended for invalids. Though the nutritive value of crab meat is not as high as that of fish, it is considered to be of unique dietary and medicinal value. The lard of wild boar is used as cooking medium.
Leather: The skin of goat, sambar and monitor lizard is widely used in leather industry . Turtle flippers are also used to a limited extent. Sambar hide makes excellent suede leather for golfing and walking shoes. Barasinga skin can be readily used in leather industry. Tiger skins are regarded as coveted trophies.
Hairs and feathers: Different types of hairs are obtained from different goat breed. They are used in the manufacture of blankets, upholstery, pile fabrics, men's summer suiting, lining, rugs, braids, nets, shoe laces, hats, decorative trimmings, shoe wigs, curtains, bed spreads, etc. Peacock feathers are extensively used for decorative purposes; fans, pictureframes, etc. are made from them in Agra, Varanasi, Jhansi, etc. There is a limited demand for peacock feathers from America for theatrical purposes. Wild boar bristles are used for making various types of brushes, ranging from shaving and toilet types to painting and distempering types. Porcupine quills are used in cottage industries for ornamental finish of articles of utility. Quill feathers of pigeon are utilised for making tooth picks.
Shells: Shells of cowrie and tortoise are used for decorative purposes. Cowrie shells are also used for ornamental purposes and for indoor games ; because of their beauty, form of feed for poultry and swine from blood of wild boar and shells of crabs.
(i) Cottage industry may be established for making handles for cutlery, umbrellas, sticks and generally for fancy artistic ware froln antlers.
(j) Shells of cowrie can be used for manufacture of lime.