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@article{191591,
        author = {Priyanka Thakur},
        title = {Ethnobiological Fauna and Tharu Community of the Uttarakhand: Patterns of Utilization and Dietary Significance},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {8},
        pages = {7081-7092},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=191591},
        abstract = {The Tharu people, Indigenous to the Terai region of northern India, have a deep connection with animals, reflecting their traditional agricultural lifestyle and cultural beliefs. To document the traditional knowledge, we interviewed a total of 35 people, out of which 20 were men and 15 were women. Before the interviews, we visited the community multiple times to make sure we included diverse participants. The predominance of men over women was due to cultural constraints We collected information on animals important for medicine and food from May to June 2024. The present study enlisted (N=19) species, classified into (N=14) different families. The Bovidea family holds the highest dominance over all others, comprising (N=5) species; (Bos taurus, Bos torus, Bubalus bubalis, Ovis aries, and Capra aegagrus hircus,) followed by Canidae comprising (N=2) species;( Canis lupus, Canis aureus.) The documented species were found to treat various human ailments (musculoskeletal problems, skin problems, respiratory diseases, wounds, sexual disorders, liver diseases, epilepsy, Diabetes, eye disease, abdominal disorders, brain disorders, and blood diseases). Among the diseases treated, skin problems were the most frequently addressed, involving the highest number of species, including (Bos taurus, Ovis aries, Sus domesticus, Felis chaus, Canis aureus, Pteropus giganteus, Cornu aspersum, Equus ferus caballus, Capra aegagrus, and Callosciurus erythraeus). A total of (N=19) animal parts were identified from the documented species used in ethnomedicinal practices. Bones were found to be the most frequently utilized obtained from (N=7) species (Equus ferus caballus, Canis lupus, Oryctolagus cuniculus, Canis aureus, Felis chaus, Sus domesticus, and Callosciurus erythraeus) followed by gall bladder from (N=5) species (Capra aegagrus onerous, Gallus gallus domesticus, Ursus thibetanus, Canis aureus, and Rattus rattus). Based on the number of usage of species, a total of three categories were created. Category first (single usage), category second (Double usage), and category third (Multiple usage). The maximum number of species belonged to category third (multiple usage) with 47% species (Bos torus, Capra aegagrus hircus, Equus ferus caballus, Gallus gallus domesticus, Canis lupus, Pteropus giganteus, Camelus dromedaries, Ursu thibetanus, Canis aurus, Sus domesticus). The Tharu community in the Himalayas shows a},
        keywords = {Ethnobiology, Fauna, Uttarakhand},
        month = {January},
        }