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Research in Human Ecology

An ethnozoological survey of medicinal animals commercialized in the markets of Campina Grande, NE Brazil
Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves1
Department of Biology Universidade Estadual da Paraíba Paraíba, Brazil

Maria das Graças Gerônimo Oliveira
Department of Biology Universidade Estadual da Paraíba Paraíba, Brazil

Raynner Rilke Duarte Barboza
Department of Systematics and Ecology Universidade Estadual da Paraíba Paraíba, Brazil

Luiz Carlos Serramo Lopez
Department of Systematics and Ecology Universidade Federal da Paraíba Paraíba, Brazil

Maria das Graças Gerônimo Oliveira
Raynner Rilke Duarte Barboza Luiz Carlos Serramo Lopez

Abstract
Numbers of animal species are commercialized by herbalists in markets throughout Brazil. Nevertheless, there is a general lack of information about this type of trade in the country. This study aimed to obtain information on the trade of animals for medicinal purposes in the city of Campina Grande, Paraíba State. Data were obtained through semistructured questionnaires applied to traders of medicinal animals. The trade of medicinal animals includes 32 species, which are extracted for zootherapeutic products recommended for the treatment of 25 illnesses. Interviewees described the existence of a multi-state trade network of medicinal animals. Some of the traded animals are listed in the Brazilian list of threatened species, and this shows the urgent need to consider zootherapy in the context of biodiversity conservation in Brazil. Our results reveal the importance of zoothera-

py as a therapeutic alternative and demonstrate the need for further studies on the subject. Keywords: zootherapy, medicinal animals, traditional medicine

Introduction
Accordingly to the World Health Organization, between 75 and 80% of the world’s population uses traditional folk medicines (Alves and Rosa 2005). Millions of people depend partially or completely on natural products harvested from natural areas