Traditional knowledge of plants used in hunting and fishing practices among Baka hunter-gatherers of eastern Cameroon

Author:

Fongnzossie Evariste Fedoung,Ngansop Marlène Tounkam,Oishi Takanori,Biwole Achille Bernard,Biye Elvire Hortense,Ichikawa Mitsuo

Abstract

Abstract Background Baka hunter-gatherers have a well-developed traditional knowledge of using plants for a variety of purposes including hunting and fishing. However, comprehensive documentation on the use of plants for hunting and fishing in eastern Cameroon is still lacking. Method This study aimed at recording plants used for hunting and fishing practices, using focus group discussion, interviews and field surveys with 165 Baka members (90 men and 75 women) of different age groups in 6 villages. Results The most frequent techniques used for hunting and fishing are the use of animal traps, fishing lines, dam fishing, hunting with dogs and spear hunting. We recorded a total of 176 plant species used in various hunting practices, the most frequently cited one being Zanthoxylum gilletii (De Wild.) P.G.Waterman, Greenwayodendron suaveolens (Engl. & Diels) Verdc., Microcos coriacea (Mast.) Burret, Calamus deërratus G.Mann & H.Wendl. and Drypetes sp. These plants are used for a variety of purposes, most frequently as hunting luck, psychoactive for improving the dog’s scent and capacity for hunting, materials for traps, and remedies for attracting animals and for making the hunter courageous. Conclusion Plants used for hunting purposes here are embedded in a complex ecological and cultural context based on morphological characteristics, plant properties and local beliefs. This study provides a preliminary report and leaves room for further investigations to improve the documentation of the traditional knowledge systems of the studied community.

Funder

This work was supported in part by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research of MEXT, Japan.

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Subject

Complementary and alternative medicine,General Agricultural and Biological Sciences,Cultural Studies,Health (social science)

Reference50 articles.

1. Dounias E. The management of wild yam tubers by the Baka pygmies in southern Cameroon. Afr Study Monogr. 2001;26:135–56.

2. Brisson R. Petit dictionnaire Baka-Français. 2002. 328 p.

3. Betti JL. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants among the Baka pygmies in the Dja biosphere reserve. Cameroon Afr Study Monogr. 2004;25(1):1–27.

4. Hattori S. Utilization of Marantaceae plants by the Baka hunter-gatherers in southeastern Cameroon. Afr Study Monogr. 2006;33:29–48.

5. Yasuoka H. The wild yam question: evidence from Baka foraging in the northwest Congo basin. In: Gates DG, Tucker J, editors. Human ecology: contemporary research and practice. Berlin: Springer; 2010. p. 143–54.

Cited by 4 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3