Ethnozoological uses of wild animals among the Iraqw in Northern Tanzania

Submitted: 12 May 2023
Accepted: 28 September 2023
Published: 20 October 2023
Abstract Views: 984
PDF: 394
SUPPLEMENTARY PDF: 31
HTML: 14
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

Historically, humans have developed knowledge of how to exploit and use wildlife species for food, clothing, traditional healing, and other purposes. This study aimed to determine the scale and scope of the ethnozoological uses of wild animals in the Iraqw community, in northern Tanzania. The study used semi-structured face-to-face questionnaire interviews with 45 key respondents in Endagaw, Mewadan, and Ng’wandakw villages in Mbulu District, to acquire the required data. The results found that 28 wild animal species including mammals (13 species), birds (12), insects (1), fish (1), and reptiles (1) were used by Iraqw for different purposes. Most species (n=23) were used mainly for food, namely helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris), African savanna hare (Lemus microtis) and Hildebrandt’s francolin (Francolinus hildebrandti), while other wild animals were used for medicine, traditional beliefs, and rituals. This study provides information on the historical human-nature relationships and a baseline for developing future conservation efforts in the region to protect wild fauna. We recommend similar studies on other traditions and/or modern usages of wildlife to improve protection worldwide and that actions be taken to heighten community awareness of ethnozoological uses of faunal resources to ensure retention of this knowledge for future generations.

Dimensions

Altmetric

PlumX Metrics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Adhikari JN, Bhattarai BP, Rokaya MB, Thapa TB 2020. Ethno-medicinal uses of vertebrates in the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape, central Nepal. PLOS ONE. 15(10):e0240555. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240555 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240555
Alves RRN. 2012. Relationships between fauna and people and the role of ethnozoology in animal conservation. Ethnobiology and Conservation. 1:1-69. doi:10.15451/ec2012-8-1.2-1-69 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15451/ec2012-8-1.2-1-69
Alves RRN, Borges AKM, Barboza RRD, Souto WMS, Gonçalves-Souza T, Provete DB, Albuquerque UP. 2021. A global analysis of ecological and evolutionary drivers of the use of wild mammals in traditional medicine. Mammal Review. 51(2):293-306. https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12233 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12233
Alves RRN, Rosa IL. 2013 Animals in traditional folk medicine. Implication for conservation. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag. XVI+492 pp. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29026-8
Alves RRN, Souto WMS. 2011. Ethnozoology in Brazil: current status and perspectives. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 7(1):1-18. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-7-22 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-7-22
Alves RRN, Souto WMS. 2015. Ethnozoology: a brief introduction. Ethnobiology and Conservation. 4:1-13. https://doi.org/10.15451/ec2015-1-4.1-1-13 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15451/ec2015-1-4.1-1-13
Arluke A. 2003. Ethnozoology and the future of sociology. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy. 23(3):26-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443330310790246 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/01443330310790246
Bello-Román M, García-Flores A, Moreno JMP. 2023. Knowledge, use and traditional management of wildlife in the community of Zoquital, Morelos, Mexico. Ethnobiology and Conservation. 12:1-18. https://doi.org/10.15451/ec2023-03-12.08-1-18 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15451/ec2023-03-12.08-1-18
Berry JW. 2008. Globalisation and acculturation. International Journal of Intercultural Relations. 32(4):328-336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2008.04.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2008.04.001
Boakye MK, Pietersen DW, Kotzé A, Dalton D-L, Jansen R. 2015. Knowledge and uses of African pangolins as a source of traditional medicine in Ghana. PLOS ONE. 10(1):e0117199. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117199 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117199
Breed AC, Plowright RK, Hayman DTS, Knobel DL, Molenaar FM, Gardner–Roberts D, Cleaveland S, Haydon DT, Kock RA, Cunningham AA, et al. 2009. Disease management in endangered Mammals. In: Delahay RJ, Smith GC, Hutchings MR, editors. Management of disease in wild mammals. New York (NY), USA: Springer. p. 215-239. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-77134-0_11
Carpaneto G, Germi F. 1989. The mammals in the zoological culture of the Mbuti Pygmies in north-eastern Zaire / I mammiferi nella cultura zoologica dei Pigmei Mbuti nello Zaire nord-orientale. Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy. 1(1):1-83. https://doi.org/10.4404/hystrix-1.1-3888
Castillo L, Ladio AH. 2019. Zootherapy and rural livestock farmers in semiarid Patagonia: the transfer of animal aptitudes for health. Ethnobiology and Conservation. 8:1-24. doi:10.15451/ec2019-01-8.02-1-23 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15451/ec2019-01-8.02-1-23
Chinsembu KC, Negumbo J, Likando M, Mbangu A. 2014. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used to treat livestock diseases in Onayena and Katima Mulilo, Namibia. South African Journal of Botany. 94:101-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2014.06.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2014.06.007
Clark. C. 2019. Biogeochemical tracers of change in Pacific walruses past and present. Unpublished thesis. University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA. 213 pp.
Costa-Neto EM. 1999. Healing with animals in Feira de Santana City, Bahia, Brazil. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 65(3):225-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(98)00158-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(98)00158-5
Das D. 2008. Traditional beliefs help wildlife conservation. Science and Culture. 74:298-299.
Dery G, Imoro AZ, Dzitse S. 2022. A survey on trade in wildlife parts in the Northern Region of Ghana. Global Ecology and Conservation. 38:e02208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02208 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02208
Dirzo R, Raven PH. 2003. Global state of biodiversity and loss. Annual Review of Environment and Resources. 28(1):137-167. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.energy.28.050302.105532 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.energy.28.050302.105532
dos Santos Soares VM, de Lucena Soares HK, da Silva Santos S, de Lucena RFP. 2018. Local knowledge, use, and conservation of wild birds in the semi-arid region of Paraíba state, northeastern Brazil. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 14(77):1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-018-0276-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-018-0276-x
Dossou EM, Lougbegnon TO, Houessou LG, Codjia JTC. 2018. Ethnozoological uses of common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) in Benin Republic (Western Africa). Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 17:85-90. http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/43146
Etikan I, Alkassim R, Abubakar S. 2016. Comparison of snowball sampling and sequential sampling technique. Biometrics and Biostatistics International Journal. 3(1):6-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15406/bbij.2016.03.00055
Ferreira FS, Brito SV, de Oliveira Almeida W, Alves RRN. 2016. Conservation of animals traded for medicinal purposes in Brazil: Can products derived from plants or domestic animals replace products of wild animals? Regional Environmental Change. 16(2):543-551. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-015-0767-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-015-0767-4
Gandile AU, Tessema SM, Nake FM. 2017. Biodiversity conservation using the indigenous knowledge system: The priority agenda in the case of Zeyse, Zergula and Ganta communities in Gamo Gofa Zone (Southern Ethiopia). International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation. 9(6):167-182. doi:10.5897/IJBC2015.0911 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5897/IJBC2015.0911
García-Onetti J, Scherer MEG, Asmus ML, García Sanabria J, Barragán JM. 2021. Integrating ecosystem services for the socio-ecological management of ports. Ocean & Coastal Management. 206:105583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105583 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105583
Graburn NHH. 2021. Introduction: Arts of the Fourth World. (p. 1-32). In: Graburn NHH, editor. Ethnic and tourist arts: Cultural expressions from the Fourth World. Berkeley (CA), USA: University of California Press. 413 pp. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520316775-004
Hajdari A, Pieroni A, Jhaveri M, Mustafa B, Quave C. 2018. Ethnomedical remedies among Slavic speaking people in South Kosovo. Ethnobiology and Conservation. 7:1-42. doi:10.15451/ec2018-03-07.06-1-42 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15451/ec2018-03-07.06-1-42
Hariohay KM, Fyumagwa RD, Kideghesho JR, Røskaft E. 2018. Awareness and attitudes of local people toward wildlife conservation in the Rungwa Game Reserve in Central Tanzania. Human Dimensions of Wildlife. 23(6):1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2018.1494866 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2018.1494866
Hariohay KM, Ranke PS, Fyumagwa RD, Kideghesho JR, Røskaft E. 2019. Drivers of conservation crimes in the Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi Game Reserves, Central Tanzania. Global Ecology and Conservation. 17:e00522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00522 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00522
IUCN-SSC. 2022. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Species Survival Commission (SSC) Resource and Database Version 2022-1). Available from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/en
Jaisankar I, Velmurugan A, Sivaperuman C. 2018. Biodiversity Conservation: Issues and strategies for the tropical islands. In: Sivaperuman C., Velmurugan A, Singh AK, Jaisankar I, editors. Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation in Tropical Islands. London, UK: Academic Press. p. 525-552. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813064-3.00019-3
Kahindi O. 2001. Cultural perceptions of elephants by the Samburu people in northern Kenya. Master Dissertation. University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom. Available from: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Kahindi%2C+O.+%282001%29.+Cultural+perceptions+of+elephants+by+the+Samburu+people+in+northern+Kenya.+Unpublished+Master+Dissertation%2C+University+of+Strathclyde.&btnG=
Kazaba PK. 2019. ’Non-protected’ primates as bushmeat, pets and pests in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 11(3):13251-13260. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4669.11.3.13251-13260 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4669.11.3.13251-13260
Kideghesho JR. 2008 Co-existence between the traditional societies and wildlife in western Serengeti, Tanzania: its relevancy in contemporary wildlife conservation efforts. Biodiversity and Conservation. 17:1861-1881. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-007-9306-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-007-9306-z
Kideghesho JR. 2009. The potentials of traditional african cultural practices in mitigating overexploitation of wildlife species and habitat loss: Experience of Tanzania. International Journal of Biodiversity Science & Management. 5(2):83-94. https://doi.org/10.1080/17451590903065579 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17451590903065579
Magige FJ. 2015. Traditional medicinal uses of small mammal products: A case study of the African Savannah hares, crested porcupines and rock hyraxes in Serengeti District, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Science. 41(1):64-71.
Magige F, Røskaft E. 2017. Medicinal and commercial uses of ostrich products in Tanzania. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 13(48):1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-017-0176-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-017-0176-5
Martínez GJ. 2013. Use of fauna in the traditional medicine of native Toba (qom) from the Argentine Gran Chaco region: an ethnozoological and conservationist approach. Ethnobiology and Conservation. 2(2):1-43. https://doi.org/10.15451/ec2013-8-2.2-1-43 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15451/ec2013-8-2.2-1-43
Medeiros L, Lauer TR, Psaltis D, Özel F. 2018. Principal component analysis as a tool for characterizing black hole images and variability. The Astrophysical Journal. 864(1):1-16. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aad37a DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aad37a
Medeiros MF, Alves R. 2020. Nineteenth century zootherapy in Benedictine monasteries of Brazil. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências. 92(2):e20181113. https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202020181113 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202020181113
Mmassy EC, Røskaft E. 2014. Factors affecting local ecological knowledge and perceived threats to the kori bustard (Ardeotis kori struthiunculus) in the Serengeti Ecosystem, Northern Tanzania. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation. 6(6):459-467. https://doi.org/10.5897/IJBC2014.0719 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5897/IJBC2014.0719
National Bureau of Statistics. 2018. Tanzania Total Population by District-Regions -2016-2017: Sub-Divisional Population Projection for Year 2016, 2017 Based on 2012 Population and Housing Census. Dar es Salaam: Government of Tanzania. Available from: http://www.nbs.go.tz/nbstz/index.php/english/statistics-by-subject/population-and-housing-census/844-tanzania-total-population-by-district-regions-2016.
National Bureau of Statistics. 2022. Population Distribution of Manyara Region by District, Ward and Village/Mtaa; 2012 PHC. Available from: https://www.nbs.go.tz/nbs/takwimu/census2012/Village_Statistics(ondoa).pdf
Nogueira MM, Alves RRN. 2016. Assessing sea turtle bycatch in Northeast Brazil through an ethnozoological approach. Ocean & Coastal Management. 133:37-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2016.09.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2016.09.011
Ntalwila J, Mwakatobe A, Mtui D, Kavana P, Hariohay KM, Machoke M, Mrisha C, Fyumagwa R, Skjærvø GR, Røskaft E. 2019. Ecosystem services: social, cultural and economic values of elephants for community’s livelihoods in the Serengeti ecosystem. Proceedings of the 12th TAWIRI Scientific Conference, Arusha, Tanzania.
Ocholla GO, Mireri C, Muoria PK. 2016. Application of indigenous knowledge systems in wildlife management: a case study of the Samburu pastoral community in Kenya. International Journal of Applied Science and Technology. 6(1):72-80.
Oliveira MA, El Bizri HR, Morcatty TQ, Messias MR, Doria, CRdaC. 2022. Freelisting as a suitable method to estimate the composition and harvest rates of hunted species in tropical forests. Ethnobiology and Conservation. 11:1-9. doi:10.15451/ec2022-03-11.08-1-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15451/ec2022-03-11.08-1-9
Pacheco E-M. 2020. Culture learning theory and globalization: Reconceptualizing culture shock for modern cross-cultural sojourners. New Ideas in Psychology. 58:100801. doi:10.1016/j.newideapsych.2020.100801 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2020.100801
Pongener A, Ao B, Yenisetti SC, Lal P. 2019. Ethnozoology and entomophagy of Ao tribe in the district of Mokokchung, Nagaland. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 18(3):508-515.
Raphael LJ. 2018. Vegetation Land Cover/Use Dynamics and Their Effects in Mbulu and Karatu Districts in the North-Eastern Highlands of Tanzania. International Journal of Geospatial and Environmental Research. 5(1):1-23.
Reyes-García V, Broesch J, Calvet-Mir L, Fuentes-Peláez N, McDade TW, Parsa S, Tanner S, Huanca T, Leonard WR, Martínez-Rodríguez MR. 2009. Cultural transmission of ethnobotanical knowledge and skills: an empirical analysis from an Amerindian society. Evolution and Human Behavior. 30(4):274-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2009.02.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2009.02.001
Ripple WJ, Abernethy K, Betts MG, Chapron G, Dirzo R, Galetti M, Levi T, Lindse, PA, Macdonald DW, Machovina B, et al. 2016. Bushmeat hunting and extinction risk to the world's mammals. Royal Society open Science. 3(10):160498-160498. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160498 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160498
Sandelowski M. 2000. Combining qualitative and quantitative sampling, data collection, and analysis techniques in mixed-method studies. Research in Nursing & Health. 23(3):246-255. https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-240X(200006)23:3<246::AID-NUR9>3.0.CO;2-H DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-240X(200006)23:3<246::AID-NUR9>3.0.CO;2-H
Setlalekgomo M. 2013. Ethnozoological survey of traditional medicinal uses of tortoises in Lentsweletau and Botlhapatlou villages in Kweneng district of Botswana. Scientific Journal of Zoology. 2(4):36-39. doi:10.14196/sjz.v2i4.644 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5455/jasa.20130430122849
Setlalekgomo M. 2014. Ethnozoological survey of the indigenous knowledge on the use of pangolins (Manis sps.) in traditional medicine in Lentsweletau Extended Area in Botswana. Journal of Animal Science Advances. 4(6):883-890. doi:10.5455/jasa.20140526093512 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5455/jasa.20140526093512
Shetto R, Owenya M. 2007. Conservation agriculture as practised in Tanzania. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Available from: http://www.fao.org/ag/ca/doc/Tanzania_casestudy.pdf
Slutsky R, Kragh-Müller G, Rentzou K, Tuul M, Gol Guven M, Foerch D, Paz-Albo J. 2021. A cross-cultural study on technology use in preschool classrooms: early childhood teacher’s preferences, time-use, impact and association with children’s play. Early Child Development and Care. 191(5):713-725. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2019.1645135 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2019.1645135
Tanalgo KC. 2017. Wildlife hunting by indigenous people in a Philippine protected area: a perspective from Mt. Apo National Park, Mindanao Island. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 9(6):10307-10313. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2967.9.6.10307-10313 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2967.9.6.10307-10313
Tardi, J, Pardo-de-Santayana M. 2008. Cultural Importance Indices: A comparative analysis based on the useful wild plants of Southern Cantabria (Northern Spain). Economic Botany. 62(1):24-39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-007-9004-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-007-9004-5
Van Vliet N, Moreno Calderón JL, Gomez J, Zhou W, Fa JE, Golden C, Nobrega Alves RR, Nasi R. 2017. Bushmeat and human health: assessing the evidence in tropical and sub-tropical forests. Ethnobiology and Conservation. 6:1-45. https://doi.org/10.15451/ec2017-04-6.3-1-45 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15451/ec2017-04-6.3-1-45
Vandebroek I, Pieroni A, Stepp JR, Hanazaki N, Ladio A, Alves RRN, Picking D, Delgoda R, Maroyi A, van Andel, et al. 2020. Reshaping the future of ethnobiology research after the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature Plants. 6(7):723-730. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-020-0691-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-020-0691-6
Vats R, Thomas S. 2015. A study on use of animals as traditional medicine by Sukuma Tribe of Busega District in North-western Tanzania. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 11(38):1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-015-0001-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-015-0001-y
Vedeld P, Jumane A, Wapalila G, Songorwa A. 2012. Protected areas, poverty and conflicts: A livelihood case study of Mikumi National Park, Tanzania. Forest Policy and Economics. 21:20-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2012.01.008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2012.01.008
Walsh MT. 2020. Symbolism, myth and ritual in Africa and Asia. In: Challender DWS, Nash HC, Waterman C, editors. Pangolins. London, UK: Academic Press. p. 197-211. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815507-3.00012-5
Whitney C. 2019. Quantitative Ethnobotany Analysis with Ethnobotany R. Available from: https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/ethnobotanyR/vignettes/ethnobotanyr_vignette.html

How to Cite

Hariohay, K. M., Chagama, J. G., Machumu, A. K., Lyamuya, R. D., Ntalwila, J., & Kideghesho, J. R. (2023). Ethnozoological uses of wild animals among the Iraqw in Northern Tanzania. Tropical Zoology, 36(1-2). https://doi.org/10.4081/tz.2023.131