Provide context when reporting on the use of protected and endangered wildlife in ethnopharmacological surveys

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The value of reports on the use of wildlife in ethnopharmacological surveys increases when context is provided on the legality of its use and on the species' conservation status.

Aim of the study: To evaluate if context is provided when protected and threatened animals are reported as being used in traditional medicine, and to provide recommendations for future reporting.

Material and methods: Review of recent papers in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

Results: Rarely is information provided on (1) the conservation status of the animals that are used in traditional medicine, (2) whether the parts can be obtained non-invasively or if the animals have to be killed, or (3) whether or not it is legal to use the animals, their parts or derivatives according to national law.

Conclusion: When presenting the results of ethnopharmalogical surveys include (1) the conservation status of the species affected, (2) whether or not parts could be harvested non-invasively and (3) the legality of harvesting and / or trading these animals, their parts or their derivatives. Our focus here is on animals, given that more so than in plants or fungi, many of their parts used in natural medicine cannot be obtained non-invasively, but a similar set of guidelines could be developed for other taxa.

Keywords: Ethnozoology; Indigenous knowledge; Traditional Chinese medicine; Wildlife trade; Zootherapy.