Conservation of animals traded for medicinal purposes in Brazil: Can products derived from plants or domestic animals replace products of wild animals?

Abstract

The use and trade of animals in traditional medicine involves many different species, some of which are threatened with extinction. Thus, evaluating biological and cultural aspects associated with this business is essential for the conservation of these species. The aim of this study was to analyze the viability of replacing wild animal with plant or domestic animals for use in medicines. To conduct this analysis, we used current literature from five Brazilian cities that have data available for the trade in animals and plants for medicinal purposes (Recife, Caruaru, Campina Grande, Belém, and Boa Vista). We compiled data on the diversity of animals and plants traded in these locations as well as their respective therapeutic applications. The potential replacement of products derived of wild animals was evaluated by the analysis of overlapping use (of plants and animals and of wild and domestic animals) as well as by the analysis of the relationship between zootherapeutic products and their target diseases. The data showed little overlap between the use of medicinal plant and animals as well as between the use of wild and domestic animals. However, the analysis of the relationship between zootherapeutic products and their target diseases provides evidence of possible replacements of wild animals by domestic animals. Although there is an urgent need for new research on the cultural and biological contexts associated with the use of wild animals for medicinal purposes, projects that aim to mitigate the impacts caused by this trade must consider the use of alternative methods.

Therapeutic arthropods and other, largely terrestrial, folk-medicinally important invertebrates: a comparative survey and review

“…Mostly comprising species of reptiles, birds and mammals, these medicinal vertebrate animals number nearly a hundred species, many of which are considered vulnerable and endangered [ 212 – 216 ]. This is why the need has been expressed to comprehensively investigate the bioactivities of the compounds championed by knowledgeable locals as effective in cases of, for example, diseases of the circulatory system [ 213 ], so that replacements could be produced [ 221 ]. Alternatives to the use of wild animals, it is believed, could then perhaps help protecting threatened faunal elements and lead to a more sustainable use of the resource that wild animals undoubtedly represent.…”

Zootherapeutic uses of animals and their parts: an important element of the traditional knowledge of the Tangsa and Wancho of eastern Arunachal Pradesh, North-East India

“…What is abundantly clear, however, is that more rigorous controls of the origins of animal parts are required and the barcoding of therapeutic species for identification and authentication seems a promising approach (Yang et al 2018). It should also be possible to replace medicines from endangered species by herbal or chemical substitutes (Still 2003;Ferreira et al 2016), but acceptance of such alternatives by traditional healers as well as their patients can be problematic.…”

Uso de animais como zooterápicos: uma questão bioética

“…Contudo, Alves e Dias (2010) condicionaram a substituição a uma análise profunda de aspectos biológicos, ecológicos e etológicos dos animais disponíveis. Na maioria das localidades estudadas pelo fato de eles Ferreira et al (2016), a substituição de animais selvagens por domésticos não é possível por atenderem a finalidades díspares. Contudo, os autores categorizaram os animais entre os passíveis ou não de substituição, sendo os últimos os mais susceptíveis e que, por isso, demandam estratégias de conservação.…”

“…Contudo, os dados levantados no presente estudo evidenciaram baixo compartilhamento de espécies constantes na lista de ameaçadas de 2014 e aquelas usadas na zooterapia. Esse resultado corrobora a inferência de Ferreira et al (2013Ferreira et al ( , 2016 de que o comércio brasileiro não é reconhecido como causa dos declínios populacionais de animais. Os autores ressaltaram algumas exceções, como a exploração do cavalo-marinho, igualmente atestada na presente categorização.…”

“…Segundo Lima e Santos (2010), a sustentabilidade sociocultural demanda uma abordagem multidimensional que presume a compreensão de como os povos percebem, usam, manejam, valorizam e transferem seus conhecimentos. Dessa forma, Ferreira et al (2016) ponderaram que não basta avaliar a substituição de animais selvagens por plantas ou animais domésticos se não forem considerados os aspectos culturais e simbólicos dos seus usos e significados para a comunidade.…”