Journal of Environmental Biology

An investigation on the ethnozoological therapeutic practices among the indigenous communities of Goalpara district of Assam in India

D.K. Borah*, J. Das¹, M. Islam², M. Deb³ and G.S. Solanki⁴     

¹Department of Zoology, Goalpara College, Goalpara –783 101,India

²Department of Zoology, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Adarsha Mahavidyalaya, Behali, Biswanath –784 184, India

³Department of Zoology, Royal Global University, Guwahati–781 035, India

⁴Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl– 796 004, India

Received: 28 May 2025                   Revised: 10 October 2025                   Accepted: 11 February 2026

*Corresponding Author Email: dhiraj.b79@gmail.com                  *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8606-9882

Abstract

Aim: This study investigated the ethnozoological therapeutic practices among the ethnic communities of Goalpara district, Assam.

Methodology: The ethnozoological data was collected between April 2022 and March 2023 from 265 informants selected for their recognized expertise in traditional healing practices, through direct interviews using semi-structured questionnaires. Respondents, aged between 30 and 70 years (with a small proportion >70 included), comprised farmers, housewives, and local healers from Rabha, Garo, Bengali, Assamese, Hajong and Islamic communities.

Results: Altogether 31 animal species under four major phyla: Mollusca, Annelida, Arthropoda and Chordata were identified with therapeutic properties. Of these, chordates accounted for 67.6% of the documented practices, followed by arthropods (23.5%), annelids (5.9%) and molluscs (2.9%). Among the recorded classes of chordates, mammalian group was used more often, accounting for 34.7% of the documentations, followed by Pisces (30.4%), Amphibia (13.04%), Aves (13.04%) and Reptilia (8.6%).

Interpretation: The findings highlight Goalpara as a unique repository of ethnozoological knowledge with both cultural and pharmacological significance. Integrating this knowledge with modern medicine could provide new avenues for drug discovery, ensure safety and support biodiversity conservation through sustainable practices.

Key words: Documentation, Ethnomedicine, Ethnobiology, Goalpara, Zootherapy

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