Man-animal relationships in Central Nepal

Abstract

Background: Nepal is small in size but rich in bio-cultural diversity. The rugged terrain of the country is home to a number of unique assemblages of fauna, some of which are endemic. Not only faunal resources the country also harbors some very ancient populations whose interrelationship with these diverse faunal resources is very intimate and thus demands scientific study. Animals play important role in both material and spiritual spheres of their life. There are more than hundred groups of such populations in the country and the group Tamang is one of these. The present paper studies Tamang-animal relationships in central Nepal. There is a growing trend of scientific ethnozoological studies all across the globe, but this field is yet in its infancy in Nepal. The country is losing important fauna as well as ancient human cultures at the advent of development processes. As a result, ethnozoological knowledge is also teetering on the brink of extinction.

Methods: Ethnozoological data were collected by applying different participatory approaches techniques such as semi-structured interviews, participatory rural appraisal, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were obtained by employing a household level questionnaire survey. Data were collected from the period of September 2004 to August 2005. Most of the animals were identified up to the species level with the help of standard taxonomic keys.

Results: The Tamang community treasures knowledge on various uses of 41 genera belonging to 28 families. Out of total number of animals, 14.6% belong to the Invertebrate group and the rest to the Vertebrate group. Of the total uses 58% fall in the food and medicinal use category, 16% in the magico-religious use category, 18% in the category of omen indication, and 2% each in the categories such as weather forecasting, trophy, ethnomusical and taboos.

Conclusions: The Tamang maintain strong ties with animals both at a material as well as spiritual level. While some animals are the sources of important traditional medicines, others are omen indicators and weather forecasters. High priority should be given in conservation of those animals which are of high consensus value to the community.

Figure 1

The study site in the map of Nepal.

Figure 2

Average family size together with average male and female number in Tamang community. Source of data is questionnaire survey (n = 81). Mid-points in the vertical lines in the figure denote average values, whereas the lines represent confident limits of the means at 95% significance level.

Figure 3

Education status of Tamang group based on questionnaire survey (n = 81). Illiterate = who cannot read and write, Primary level = grade one to five, Lower secondary level = grade six and seven, Secondary level = grade eight to ten, Higher secondary level or Intermediate level = grade eleven and twelve and above = bachelor and higher level.

Figure 4

Per family land holding in hectare in Tamang group (n = 81).

Figure 5

Percentages of people with other economic activities besides agriculture (n = 81).

Figure 6

Per family livestock number (n = 81).