Knowledge and Uses of African Pangolins as a Source of Traditional Medicine in Ghana

Abstract

Traditional medicine has been practised in Ghana for centuries with the majority of Ghanaians still patronising the services of traditional healers. Throughout Africa a large number of people use pangolins as a source of traditional medicine, however, there is a dearth of information on the use of animals in folk medicine in Ghana, in particular the use of pangolins. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalent use of pangolins and the level of knowledge of pangolin use among traditional healers in Ghana for the treatment of human ailments. Data was gathered from 48 traditional healers using semi-structured interviews on the traditional medicinal use of pangolin body parts in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. The cultural importance index, relative frequency of citation, informant agreement ratio and use agreement values were calculated to ascertain the most culturally important pangolin body part as well as the level of knowledge dissemination among traditional healers with regards pangolin body parts. Our study revealed that 13 body parts of pangolins are used to treat various medicinal ailments. Pangolin scales and bones were the most prevalent prescribed body parts and indicated the highest cultural significance among traditional healing practices primarily for the treatment of spiritual protection, rheumatism, financial rituals and convulsions. Despite being classified under Schedule 1 of Ghana’s Wildlife Conservation Act of 1971 (LI 685), that prohibits anyone from hunting or being in possession of a pangolin, our results indicated that the use of pangolins for traditional medicinal purposes is widespread among traditional healers in Ghana. A study on the population status and ecology of the three species of African pangolins occurring in Ghana is urgently required in order to determine the impact this harvest for traditional medical purposes has on their respective populations as current levels appear to be unmonitored and unsustainable.

Phylogeography of the heavily poached African common pangolin (Pholidota, Manis tricuspis) reveals six cryptic lineages as traceable signatures of Pleistocene diversification

“…; Soewu & Ayodele ; Soewu & Adekanola ; Boakye et al . , ; Soewu & Sodeinde ). In this context, our mtDNA‐typing approach can concretely provide the necessary tools to identify traded body parts of African common pangolins (notably because DNA can be extracted from skin residues found on scales; Zhang et al .…”

“…In tropical Africa, pangolins are generally sold alive or 'entire' for local meat consumption. However, different body parts such as scales, bones and eyes, which may be difficult to attribute taxonomically, are also used in traditional medicine for healing a large spectrum of health conditions (Akpona et al 2008;Soewu & Ayodele 2009;Soewu & Adekanola 2011;Boakye et al 2014Boakye et al , 2015Soewu & Sodeinde 2015). In this context, our mtDNA-typing approach can concretely provide the necessary tools to identify traded body parts of African common pangolins (notably because DNA can be extracted from skin residues found on scales; Zhang et al 2015), to trace their regional to worldwide traffic and to prosecute traffickers.…”

Documentation of Traditional Knowledge Associated with Medicinal Animals in West Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

“…Whole, part or products of animal species such as scales of the tree pangolin species are used for the treatment of a wide range of human ailments in Ghana [1].…”

Ethnozoological Study of Traditional Medicinal Animals and Their Products Used by The People of South Achefer District, Northern Ethiopia

“…Traditional Medicine has been practiced for several thousand years ago in different parts of the world particularly where large ethnic communities live in. Currently, more than 80% of the world population uses traditional medicine either on its own or as a complementary medicine [9]. More than 80% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa relies on traditional medicines and Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) as the primary source of health care [10].…”

“…Zootherapy is de ned as healing of human ailments by using medicines prepared from different animals and/or animal derived byproducts [8]. Zootherapy constitutes a signi cant substitute among many other known therapies practiced worldwide [9].…”