Abstract:
Little attention and limited research has been conducted in the area of Ethno-zoology and zoo-therapeutic in
Ethiopia. About 60 respondents were participated during this study out of these, 6 respondents were
traditional healers and 54 were non-healer/other community members. Of the respondents 38 (63.3%) were
males and 22 (36.7%) were females. The data were collected by using structured questionnaires. All
respondents knew the presence of a traditional medicinal treatment system. Most of the respondents of the
community (72%) gave their response that TMs are more effective than modern medicines in the treatment
of illness. All of the religious workers (priest/monk) and the respondents who were more than 55 years old
agree as TMs were effective than modern medicines in the treatment of illness. According to the response
of 50% of the healers, cross infection was the factor that can be happen during the practice using TMs. At
about 66.7% of the respondents, an advantage of using TMs is that it effectiveness. About 64.9% of the
respondents were willing to use TMs, but not the community with first degree and above. Most of the
respondents (75.9%) were willing to use TMs when they are affected with various illnesses and all of the
religious workers (priest/Monk) use it but, 66.7% of the respondents with first degree and above were not.
From the healers 50% were not volunteer to transfer their knowledge to others easily. Lack of training and
education, policies and guidelines about TM and also the unwillingness of healers to transfer their
knowledge to the next generation were the most associated factors (96.7%). In this study, a total of 22
animal species were identified and recorded as a source of medicine to treat 14 types of ailments. The
species of Procavia capensis, and different types of fish followed by squirrel were frequently reported to use
as animal-derived medicines to treat different ailments. Informants reported 24 animal parts/products that were
used to treat ailments from which meat took the highest frequency and followed by the skin. Evil eye and
stomach ache were recorded as the maximum degree which can be treated by various types of traditional
medicines. The government must appreciate traditional healers by giving training, providing the required
materials and financial support, and also by protecting their intellectual property rights. Various scientists
such as chemists and pharmacists should work with traditional healers of the area also to play their role with
scientific studies which can identify chemical constituent of animal parts and animal products for the
treatment of ailments in the study area.