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Table 3 Reptile parts used and reasons

From: Wildlife use and the role of taboos in the conservation of wildlife around the Nkwende Hills Forest Reserve; South-west Cameroon

Animal

Part used

Use and use method

Reason(s)

Nile crocodile Crocodylus niloticus

Skull2

- Decoration

Traditional inherited practice

Skin2

- Making of drums

Large, durable, elastic and resistant, produce the desired sound (different from other skins) and contains less fat

Egyptian cobra Naja haje

Skin2

- Making of drums

Strong

Head1

- Sold to Nigerians

For money

Dwarf crocodile Osteolaemus tetraspis

Skull and dung1

- Sold to Nigerians

For money

Dung1

- Treat skin problems: rub on the skin

Medicinal

Teeth3

- For making necklaces

Prestige

Skin2,3

- Making of drums

Strong and durable

- Decoration

Indicates a member of Ekpe

African rock python Python sebae

Skull1

- Sold to Nigerians

For money

Fat1 (Figure 20)

- Treat joint pains, snake bite, fire burns, stomachache, swollen fingers, sprain and skin inflammations: apply on the body part

Medicinal

Egg1

- Treats poison: extract the yolk and apply on cuts made on the body with a razorblade

Medicinal

Bone and fat1

- Treats waist pains: burn and grind the bones, then mix with the fat and apply on cuts made on the waist with a razor blade

Medicinal

Skin2,3

- Making of drums

Durable, produces the desired sound, light, large and elastic

- Making drums of sacred societies

Denotes strength and power

- Used as carpets by chiefs

For honor

Head1

- Treats snake bites: grind and mix with your blood and consume

Medicinal

- Sold to Nigerians

For money

Eastern green mamba Dendroaspis angusticeps

Head1

- Ingredient for the composition of the remedy against snake bites

Not revealed

Tortoise Kinixys spp.;

Shell1,3,4 (Figure 21)

- Prevents many diseases: grind and mix with modern medicines and consume

Increases human resistance to diseases

- To announce messages/sad news in the village: play using either branches of trees, bones of blue duiker, elephant, red river hog, gorilla, drill and chimpanzee

Inherited traditional practice

- Decoration

Inherited traditional practice

- Sold to Nigerians

For money

- Treats eczema: burn, grind and apply on the skin

Medicinal

Bone1

- For strength: burn, grind, mix with oil palm and apply on cuts made on the body with a razor blade

Medicinal

- Treats fractures: tie on the broken leg

Believed to be a strong animal

Blood1

- Treats eczema: apply on the infected part

Medicinal

Tortoise1

- Sold to tradi-practitioners as it is believed to protects man against sorcerers

For money

Nile monitor Varanus niloticus

Skin2,3 (Figure 22)

- Making of drums

Durable, resistant, light, elastic and produces good sound

- Decoration: hang in houses of Ekpe members

Denotes power

Chest skin2

- Making of drums

Solid

Rhinoceros horned viper Bitis nasicornis

Teeth1,4

- Treats breast pains and induces flow of maternal milk: the breast is pierced several times with the tooth

Inherited traditional practice

- Treats boyls : pierce the boyl with the tooth

Medicinal

- Used as a blade

Inherited traditional practice

Skull1,4

- Protect man against sorcerers: grind and mix with oil palm and apply on cuts made on the body with a razor blade

Usually considered as a witchcraft animal

- Sold to Nigerians

For money

Skin2

- Making of drums

Durable, large, light, elastic and produces quality sound. Also, it does not contain fat

Head1

- Dry and sell to tradi-practitioners and Nigerians

For money

  1. Note: 1Animals with food, medicinal and sales values.
  2. 2Ethnomusical animals and parts used as trophy.
  3. 3Animals used in decoration and jewelry making.
  4. 4Magico-religious and multipurpose animals.