Indigenous Knowledge of Medicinal Plants for Livestock Treatment in Bastar District, Chhattisgarh

Abstract

The present study investigates the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used by tribal communities for livestock treatment in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, India. The primary objectives were to document ethnoveterinary plant species utilized by tribal healers, identify the plant parts and modes of administration, and assess the prevalence of traditional veterinary knowledge across dominant tribal groups including Gond, Maria, Muria, Bhatra, and Halba. The study adopted a descriptive ethnobotanical research design, employing semi-structured interviews, participatory field observations, and guided field walks among 120 purposively selected informants comprising traditional healers (locally called Guniyas), elderly livestock keepers, and experienced herbal practitioners across seven development blocks of Bastar district. It was hypothesized that the tribal communities of Bastar possess a rich and systematic ethnoveterinary knowledge base linked to the region's biodiversity. Results revealed that 45 plant species belonging to 38 genera and 26 families were used for treating 28 livestock ailments. Leaves (42.2%) were the most frequently used plant part, followed by roots (20.0%) and bark (15.6%). Discussion indicates that this indigenous knowledge system is eroding rapidly due to modernization, deforestation, and generational disconnect. The study concludes that urgent documentation and scientific validation of ethnoveterinary practices in Bastar are essential for biodiversity conservation and sustainable livestock healthcare management.