The present study was conducted in Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary, district Mandi, located in Himachal Pradesh, to collect and document the traditional ethnoveterinary knowledge utilized by the local communities. A total of 100 ethnoveterinary plants belonging to 88 genera and 52 families were recorded from the study area. Informants were selected through the snowball method, and the documentation involved direct interviews, group discussions, and questionnaires. A total of 97 informants were selected for traditional information. Most of the plant species reported from the study site belong to the Fabaceae family, followed by Moraceae and Euphorbiaceae families. Most plant species collected from the study area were trees (34), followed by herbs (31) and shrubs (19). Leaves were the most used plant part for ethnoveterinary practices. The most common livestock diseases reported from the study site were skin infections, digestive problems, eye infections, and foot and mouth diseases. The plant remedies were used in the form of paste, powder, and extract. During the present survey, it was noticed that older people have more diverse traditional knowledge of plants used for veterinary purposes compared to the younger generation. The main aim of the present survey was to collect and document the traditional ethnoveterinary knowledge from Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary, district Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.

Ethnoveterinary, Traditional, Wildlife, Sanctuary and Knowledge.

Ethnoveterinary medicine is a holistic interdisciplinary study of local knowledge, socio-cultural structures, and the environment associated with animal healthcare and husbandry (McCorkle, 1986). Traditional healing practices have been applied for centuries and passed down orally from generation to generation to keep animals healthy (Phondani et al., 2010). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 80% of the world's population is directly dependent on plant resources for their health, especially those living in rural regions. The Indian Himalayan region, extending from Jammu and Kashmir in the North-West to Arunachal Pradesh in the East, covers approximately 419,873 km2 area and is identified as one of the mega biodiversity hotspots, supporting many species of plants (Singh and Hajra 1996; Samant et al., 1998). This region includes 1,748 medicinal plants, 675 wild edibles, 279 fodder species, 515 sacred plants, and 118 essential oil plants with medicinal values (Samant et al., 1998; Samant and Palni 2000; Pant and Samant 2008).

India is considered a rich source of biodiversity, with two mega biodiversity hotspots, the Western Ghats, and Eastern Himalayas (Tangjang et al., 2011). It is one of the world's 12 mega-diversity countries, accounting for 8% of global plant generic resources and a higher share of microorganisms. India has 45,000 plant species, of which 15,000-20,000 possess proven medicinal value. Since the Vedic era, plants have been used in veterinary treatment in India (Bhandari and Mukerji 1958). Himachal Pradesh, a hilly state in the Western Himalayas, covers an area of 55,673 sq. km with an altitude ranging from 350m to 7000m above mean sea level. The state comprises a good heritage of ethno-botanical flora and natural wealth, divided into three distinct regions: the Shivalik or outer Himalaya, mid-hills, and the greater Himalaya. Approximately 3,500 plant species have been recorded in Himachal Pradesh (Chauhan, 1999). Ethnobotanical work in the state has been conducted by various researchers (Brij Lal and Singh 2008; Kaur et al., 2011; Sharma and Sood 2013; Kharwal et al., 2014).

Himachal Pradesh is a rich source of herbal medicinal plants, and some communities are completely dependent on these plants for their well-being. Aromatic and medicinal plants are used for various therapeutic purposes, and different plant species have been used in India for medicinal purposes and human nourishment since Vedic times (Wani et al., 2016). Wild plants are utilized for fulfilling daily human needs such as fuel, fodder, and medicines, and wild fruit-bearing plants contribute significantly to the economy of many communities worldwide (Maikhuri et al., 1994). People acquire ethnoveterinary information through years of experience and orally pass it on from generation to generation. However, with rapid cultural changes and modernization, traditional knowledge is being lost (Radha et al., 2022). Therefore, there is an urgent need for scientific documentation of traditional information from rural areas of India. Ethnoveterinary traditional knowledge is crucial for the healthcare system of domestic animals (Gonzalez and Vallejo 2021). In Himachal Pradesh, rural people use ethnoveterinary medicines to cure their animals. Various studies have documented the use of medicinal plants for animal healthcare in different regions of the state, such as Kangra, Chamba, Kinnaur, Solan, Hamirpur, Shimla, among others. The Himalayan region is a storehouse of important plant species that can serve as a good substitute for medicinal purposes in curing livestock diseases in modern times. The study conducted in Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary, district Mandi, Himachal Pradesh aims to document and analyze traditional information associated with medicinal plants used in animal health problems by rural inhabitants.

A. Description of Study Area 

The present survey was conducted in Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary, district Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh is situated in the western Himalayas. It is bounded by six districts and is almost in the centre of the state. To the northwest lies Kangra, to the west are Hamirpur and Bilaspur. Solan and Shimla districts are to the south, and Kullu is to the east. Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary is in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its thick forest outgrowths which serve as excellent natural habitats for numerous wild animals. The sanctuary is situated about seven kilometres away from the town of Sunder Nagar, close to Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. It extends from 31°25′2″ to 31°29′02″ North and 76°52′04″ to 76°56′54″ East, covering an area of 41.32 square kilometers. Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary is characterized by hilly terrain spanning an altitudinal range from about 600 meters to over 2000 meters, with abrupt and steep changes in altitude. The highest point, Bandli Tibba, reaches an altitude of 2162 meters. The area consists of steep rocks and cliffs, with approximately 5% of the area covered by precipitous rocky slopes. The approximate proportion of land use categories in Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary consists of 40% land under tree cover, while precipitous rocks comprise 15% and grasslands 5%. The annual rainfall in the area is around 1500 mm.

The southern, western, and northern sides of the sanctuary form part of the catchment of the Satluj River, while the eastern side drains into the Beas River through Bhadrolu Nala. The sanctuary is bounded on the southern side by Serikhad, and numerous nalas dissect the terrain of the sanctuary. The sanctuary has only one range, the Sunder Nagar range, which is further divided into four beats: Maloh, Saul, Bobar, and Khural. An additional beat, Trambri, is part of the forest training school. The sanctuary experiences distinct seasons, including cold, dry, and wet seasons, with temperature variations ranging from 36°C in summer to as low as -1°C in winter. Ground frost is common during winter, and mild fog conditions persist for a short duration during the monsoon season. Wind conditions remain mild for most of the year, with high-velocity winds occurring only on hilltops. Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary contains a rich forest cover comprising three forest types: northern dry mixed deciduous forests, Himalayan subtropical chir pine forests, and lower West Himalayan temperate forests (Ban Oak Forest). Some of the major species characterizing this forest type in the sanctuary include Acacia catechu, Acacia fistula, Emblica officinalis, Dalbergia sissoo, Syzygium cumini, Mallotus philippinensis, etc. The sanctuary area also comprises patches of grassland dotted with Phoenix trees. This protected area is rich in plant diversity due to vast altitudinal variation and geographical conditions. Bandli was a reserve forest until 1962, and after the enactment of the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972, the final notification designating it as a wildlife sanctuary took place in 1974.Agriculture and farming are the primary occupations of the rural inhabitants of Bandli. Maize, green vegetables, and potatoes are the main cultivation crops grown in the area. Livestock such as sheep, goats, cows, and buffaloes are popular among rural people and provide meat, milk, and milk products for the people of Sunder Nagar town.

Fig. 1. Map of study site.

B. Sampling informants 

During the survey, a total of 97 informants (67 males and 30 females) were randomly selected for interviews. The age and educational background were also recorded during the interviews. The informants were divided into 5 groups based on their age (Table 1). In this study, it was observed that older people have vast knowledge of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants compared to the younger generation.

Table 1:  Demography and literacy among informants.

C. Ethnoveterinary  data collection and ethical consideration

The ethnoveterinary data were collected from rural areas of Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary in district Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India. A total of 97 male and female informants were selected by snowball methods for interviews. The ethnoveterinary data were collected through questionnaires, observations, interviews, and participatory observations (Jain, 1986). Extensive field visits were used to collect ethnoveterinary data from unexplored rural areas of Bandli in tehsil Sunder Nagar of Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, India. For the ethnoveterinary survey, the questionnaire was divided into three sections: demographic data, ethnoveterinary plant uses, and informant’s declaration. The ethnoveterinary plant species were collected from Bandli between July 2021 and July 2022, and they were identified by the Botanical Survey of India, Nauni Solan, H.P. The identified plant specimens with voucher numbers were submitted to the herbarium of Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.

D. Questionnaire for conducting ethnoveterinary study.

(A) Demographic data: 

1.Name of Tehsil………………

2. Name of Village…………

3.Age……………………

4.Education………………

(B) Ethnoveterinary medicinal plant uses:

1.Plant (Local/Vernacular name)

2.Plant identified as………………………………….(Botanical name)

3.Habit of plant  (Trees/Shrubs/ Herbs/Climbers/Grasses/Other)

4.Parts of plant used ……………………………………

5.Nature of ailment treated …………………………

6.Mode of administration  (a)Oral (b)Tropical)

I Informant’s declaration

I, the above  mentioned, have voluntarily agreed to participate in the study with my full contsent, and I declare that the information and knowledge given  in interview and discussion is correct.

Signature

Dated: ……………….

E. Data analysis

Ethnoveterinary medicine data were collected from a randomly selected sample of 97 informants in the study area. The collected data were then analyzed using the “use value” method, which quantitatively assesses the relative importance of each species based on the number of citations per species provided by the informants.

F. Use Value of  Ethnoveterinary Medicinal  Plants

The analysis of ethnoveterinary medicines data obtained from 97 informants was done statistically using the “use value” (UV), which is a quantitative approach for demonstrating the relative importance of a particular species known to folks. It was calculated using the formula (Phillips & Gentry 1993):

UV = Σui/n

Where:

UV is the use value of a species.

Ui is the number of citations per species.

N is the number of informants. A high percentage of use value indicates the importance of that plant species, while a lower percentage refers to that plant species being relatively less used.

A. Ethnoveterinary  Plants reported by the Informants

The rural inhabitants of the study area were found to be utilizing 100 plant species from 88 genera belonging to 52 families for ethnoveterinary purposes. It was observed that the Fabaceae, Moraceae, and Euphorbiaceae families were the most reported. The Fabaceae family had 8 plant species, followed by the Moraceae and Euphorbiaceae families, each with 7 plant species. Solanaceae and Asteraceae contributed 6 plant species each, while the Lamiaceae family had 4 plants. Additionally, the Meliaceae, Verbenaceae, and Zingiberaceae families contributed 3 plant species each. Other families such as Acanthaceae, Anacardiaceae, Liliaceae, Lythraceae, Menispermaceae, Poaceae, Pinaceae, Pteridaceae, Rosaceae, Rutaceae, Ranunculaceae, and others contributed 2 plant species each. Furthermore, Apocynaceae, Adiantaceae, Araceae, Apiaceae, Berberidaceae, Bombacaceae, Crassulaceae, Cannabaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cyperaceae, Commelinaceae, Combretaceae, Equisetaceae, and other families contributed 1 plant species each. Different species of family Asteraceae (8), Lamiaceae (7), Apiaceae (4) were employed in ethnoveterinary practice in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh reported by (Thakur et al., 2016). There are examples of similar documentation of Thakur et al. (2016); Sharma et al. (2012); Farouji and Khodavari (2016) which reported that leaves were the most frequently used plant parts in treatment of various animal diseases. Similar results were observed in findings of (Lulekal et al., 2011) which reported that 44 species were used in powder form, 17 species in decoction form, 14 species as paste, 4 species as extraction and 1 species through inhalation.

A total of 97 informants (67 males and 30 females) were randomly selected for interviews and data collection. Numerous plant species found in the study area are utilized as ethnoveterinary medicines, with 34 trees, 31 herbs, 24 shrubs, 9 climbers, and 2 grasses recorded.

It was observed in this study that leaves were the most used plant part (Thakur et al., 2021) followed by whole aerial parts, fruits, and flowers . These plant parts were often used in the form of paste, juice, and powder. According to the informants, the mode of use can vary from oral to tropical applications Maximum  species  were  used  to  cure  gastrointestinal  problem, which is following earlier works in cold desert region as reported by Sood et al. (2001); Basant and Chaurasia (2009). The most frequently reported livestock diseases included foot and mouth disease, fever, cold and cough, bahan, mouth ulcer, reduction in milk, thanela, hardness of neck, and placental problems after delivery.

The 100 plant species recorded from the study area were highly recommended by the informants for treating diseases found in animals. These plants are systematically arranged with their botanical names, families, common names, plant parts used as ethnoveterinary medicines, and modes of use described (Table 2).

B. Use Value of Ethnoveterinary Medicinal Plants

The use value was calculated using the formula UV = Σ Ui/n, where Ui represents the number of uses cited by informants for a specific plant species, and n is the total number of informants. The highest use values were found in Grewia oppositifolia (0.85), Solanum nigrum (0.52), Terminalia chebula (0.45), Pistacia integerrima (0.43), and Zanthoxylum armatum (0.41).

Various plant parts such as roots, leaves, stems, flowers, tubers, seeds, rhizomes, and bark are utilized to treat a variety of livestock diseases. A total of 100 plants were documented for ethnoveterinary preparations in adjoining rural areas of Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary. During discussions with rural inhabitants, common ailments in livestock such as foot and mouth disease, skin infections, diarrhea, constipation, insect bites, wounds, and cuts were reported. The most popular methods of preparation include the use of leaf paste, seed powder, fruit juice, and wood ash. According to data collected from informants, it was found that the mode of administration can be oral or topical, and certain plants can be used both orally and topically to treat livestock diseases. Most preparations involve the use of a single plant, with only a few combining multiple plant species. Table 2 provides a detailed list of all plants reported, including their botanical names, families, habits, parts used, and ailments treated.

Table 2:  Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants used in study area.

DISCUSSION

Plants are the most used ingredients in the preparation of ethnoveterinary medicines. All parts of the plants, including leaves, bark, fruits, flowers, roots, and seeds, are used in medicinal preparations. Plants play a vital role in human health, with at least 80% of people in developing countries relying largely on indigenous practices for the control and treatment of various diseases affecting both humans and their animals, according to the World Health Organization. These traditional healing practices are referred to as "Ethnoveterinary medicine," which is cost-effective and dynamic (Warren, 1991). Rural inhabitants have developed extensive knowledge in utilizing plants as food and medicine based on their cultural practices. They have a long history of using plants for ethnoveterinary medicine. The present study documented different types of diseases in animals, such as curing colds, coughs, fevers, diarrhea, skin infections, retained placenta, bone fractures, wounds, mouth ulcers, and foot and mouth disease. Preparations and modes of administration vary with the type of disease, with leaves being commonly used in most cases. Detailed information was recorded for 100 plant species.me common ailments like expulsion of

Among these ethnoveterinary medicinal plants, species from the Fabaceae, Moraceae, and Euphorbiaceae families were most used. Plants from these families have been traditionally used to treat various diseases in animals. In terms of habit, trees dominated their medicinal uses, followed by herbs, shrubs, climbers, and grasses, respectively. Leaves were most frequently used against different ailments, followed by whole aerial parts, fruits, flowers, tubers, bark, stems, and seeds. These ethnoveterinary medicinal plants are used by rural inhabitants against many ailments. Sometimes, to increase effectiveness, two or more plant species are used in combination (refer to Table 2). The main aim of this study is to explore and document traditional ethnoveterinary medicinal plant knowledge.