Dietetic use of wild animals and traditional cultural beliefs in the Mro community of Bangladesh: an insight into biodiversity conservation

Abstract

Meeting the demand for regular animal protein, for human consumption, through hunting wild animals is a worldwide, common phenomenon in traditional communities. Hunting, which constitutes an essential part of the tribal culture, is also contributing to the steady loss of faunal diversity. Equally, however, traditional cultural beliefs and taboos which exist in tribal societies are in fact favorable for species conservation. There is increasing global interest surrounding this paradoxical relationship, as well as efforts being made for finding more effective ways of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development within indigenous, tribal communities. This study is a preliminary attempt to explore such a culture and its impact on local biodiversity in the hill forests of southeast Bangladesh, based on a case study of the Mro tribe, the oldest aboriginal group of the country. A total of 45 wildlife species were recorded currently available in the neighbouring forests, from which the Mro harvest for food and other complementary daily uses. Eight species (five mammals and three birds) were revealed to be at risk of disappearance from the region due to over-harvesting. Conversely, long-established ritual taboos were found to be effective in the protection of five species (two mammals, two birds and one reptile). Careful investigation and official recognition of these practices, along with community awareness and stakeholder involvement, may heighten the success of conservation programmes. It is argued that finding alternative protein sources for this marginal local community should be a key incentive for encouraging their involvement in conservation programmes.