The main objective of the study is to review the practices of Zootherapy among the ethnic groups of the northeastern part of India and to prepare an inventory of all the information. The data were collected from 11 published papers on the practices of zootherapy among different ethnic groups from the region. All the papers were published in the years 2002-2016. A total of 181 animals species are used by 19 ethnic groups from the region. Mammals are the most widely used animal groups followed by Arthropods, Aves, Pisces, Reptiles, Annelids, Amphibian and Molluscs. The number of the animal species are-77 species of Mammals (42.5%) followed by 65 species of Arthropods (35.9%), 24 species of Aves (13.25%), 22 species of Pisces (12.15%), 18 species of Reptiles (9.94%), 6 species of Annelids (3.31%), 5 species of Amphibians (2.76%) and 4 species of Molluscs (2.21%). The most commonly treated ailments are-Tuberculosis, Malaria, Diabetes, Asthma, Arthritis, Rheumatic pain, Jaundice, Anaemia, Paralysis, Pertussis, etc. This review on the zoo therapy practices among the ethnic groups of the region will summarise all the information in one place which will be helpful for the scientists and researchers working in the field of ethnomedicine to study and develop new potential drugs.

No abstract

Conflict with elephants and subsequent economic losses negatively affect residents’ tolerance towards wild elephants.  It is important to understand people’s attitude towards wildlife, especially Asian Elephants with an endangered status.  A questionnaire survey was undertaken with 510 forest fringe residents of Nilambur North and South Forest Divisions, Kerala, to understand residents’ attitudes towards elephant conservation and Human-Elephant conflict.  The majority of the villagers experienced psychological stress and fear associated with movement restriction and chances of encounters with elephants.  Crop damage was perceived as the most serious issue, followed by injury or death by encounters with elephants.  Elephants show a higher preference for raiding Jackfruit and Plantain than other crops.  The conflict was caused more frequently by solitary elephants than by elephant herds.  Elephants were mainly found near farm areas during late night (22:00–02:00 hr) and early night (20:00–22:00 hr).  More than half of the residents were in favour of forest conservation owing to its ecological value.  One-fourth of the respondents favoured forest conservation due to its extraction benefits such as collection of fuel wood and cattle grazing.  Almost equal proportions of people have positive and negative attitudes towards elephants.  In such instances, the possibility for a drastic shift towards negative attitudes following spontaneous elephant conflict events can be expected.  Ecological awareness, interaction among stakeholders, and participatory maintenance of mitigation methods will possibly reduce conflict and contribute towards the coexistence of people and elephants in this human-dominated landscape.

Elephant conservation carries cost in the form of human-elephant conflict and affects the wellbeing of people living near ecologically important areas.  Conflicts impart serious challenges towards the survival of Asian Elephants, which are categorized as Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.  Issues of wildlife conservation are least addressed in areas with less restricted categories of protection.  Hence an attempt was made to evaluate the intensity of elephant conflict and factors associated with its occurrence in villages with forest fringes of North and South Forest Divisions of Nilambur, Kerala, southern India.  It was hypothesized that variables such as number of houses, area of village, livestock population, forest frontage, and presence of water source along the forest boundary abutting the village to be the underlying correlates of conflict.  Field studies were conducted fortnightly from June 2014 to May 2015, by visiting farms and households of 17 selected forest fringe villages.  Observational methods, questionnaire surveys and secondary data collection were employed for this purpose.  A total of 277 incidents of crop depredation, 12 incidents of property damage, three human injuries, and one human death due to conflict were recorded during this period.  Crop raiding was highest during post monsoon season and it was low during pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons.  Multiple linear regression results suggest that forest frontage and livestock population were significant predictors of conflict incidence.  Information regarding the prime causes of conflict will be helpful for planning strategies for the establishment of appropriate mitigation methods.  The present study serves as baseline information which will be helpful for formulating prospective management plans.

Odontotermes parvidens is a commonly found important pest species of termite that primarily feed on a range of cellulosic sources. In termites, communication among the nestmates is the basis of all their daily activities and the sensory structures present on the sensory appendages play a crucial role in different social behaviors perceiving and processing various signals of the nestmates and external environments. So, it is essential to understand in detail their sensory structures in order to understand the sensory system of the species O. parvidens. Thus, we have studied the antenna which is one of the primary sensory appendages of both soldier and worker individuals of the species to elucidate various antennal sensory structures and their distribution using scanning electron microscopy. Based on the morphological features of various sensilla, we observed seven types of sensilla as sensilla chaetica (subtypes I, II, III, and IV), sensilla trichodea (subtypes I and II), sensilla trichodea curvata (subtypes I and II), sensilla basiconica, sensilla capitula, Böhm bristles, and sensilla campaniformia (subtypes I and II) along with numerous glandular pores on the antenna of soldier and worker castes. We have also discussed the putative functions of all the sensilla observed based on their external morphology and distributional characteristics on the antenna of soldier and worker castes of the species O. parvidens. Furthermore, the abundance of sensillar types on the antenna of both the castes has also been discussed.

Stenachroia elongella is an important pest of maize in Meghalaya, India. To understand the roles of sensory organs in the biological behaviors of this insect, we determined the structure and distribution of sensilla found on the antenna of both male and female S. elongella by scanning electron microscope. The antenna of both sexes is a filiform type, and the overall length of the female antenna is significantly longer than the male antenna. In both sexes, seven types and two subtypes of antennal sensilla are identified; sensilla trichodea, sensilla chaetica, sensilla styloconica, sensilla coeloconica, sensilla auricillica (I, II), sensilla squamiformia and Böhm sensilla. No sexual dimorphism on the specific occurrence of sensilla is observed. Probable functions are discussed based on their external morphology. These results would be helpful for further studies on TEM investigations, electrophysiological recordings, and behavioral studies. Research Highlights Seven types and two subtypes of antennal sensilla were observed in both male and female Stenachroia elongella. Morphology and distribution of the antennal sensilla were discussed. Sexual dimorphism was observed on the overall length of the antenna where the female antenna is longer than the male antenna. No sexual dimorphism was observed on specific occurrences of antennal sensilla.

Eurydema dominulus (Scopoli), a phytophagous insect and a pest of many plants. The external morphology of the sensilla on the wings were observed using scanning electron microscope. Based on their morphological structure, different five types of sensilla were distinguished: sensilla trichoidea, sensilla chaetica, sensilla basiconica, sensilla campaniformia and sensilla ampullacea. These sensilla can be related to have mechanosensory, chemosensory and proprioceptive functions. The possible roles of these sensilla are also discussed.

Aplosonyx chalybaeus is a major insect pest of the plant Colocasia which is commonly found in the North-Eastern region of India. The antenna of A. chalybaeus is filiform, composed of a scape, a pedicel, and a flagellum with nine flagellomeres. The type, structure, and distribution of sensilla, on the antennae of the adult A. chalybaeus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Eight different types of sensilla were observed on the antennae using scanning electron microscopy, that is, sensilla trichodea, sensilla chaetica, sensilla basiconica, multiporous grooved pegs, sensilla auricillica, sensilla styloconica, glandular plates, and Böhm sensilla based on their external morphology. Distribution of all the antennal sensilla observed was discussed on the antenna. In addition, we discussed the putative functions of all the sensilla observed based on their external morphological and distributional characteristics on the antenna of the species. Research Highlights• External morphology and distribution of various antennal sensilla in male and female of Aplosonyx chalybaeus were described.• Eight types with 17 subtypes of antennal sensilla were observed.• Distinct sexual dimorphism was observed in occurrence and distribution of various sensilla.