Turtle Hunting by the Tharu Tribes: An Ethnozoological Case Study

The Tharus are a prominent group of tribes who have lived in the Tarai belt of Nepal and India for centuries, relying on the forest for their survival. This ethnozoological study focuses on turtle collection and consumption by the Tharu community in the Rupandehi district of Nepal, discussing the distribution and abundance of turtle species and this community’s unique spearing method of turtle hunting. In this study, Tharu turtle hunters were hired to collect living specimens using the spearing method from nine locations, and interviews were conducted with local community members. Twenty-three living turtle specimens from three species were recorded, and an additional 81 shells were recovered from Tharu households. The Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata andersoni; Tharu: Gauriya Kachhuwa) was the most abundantly distributed species in the district. The survey of shells in households revealed that all specimens were Indian flapshell, while the two other specimens were Indian peacock softshell turtle (Nilssonia hurrum; Tharu: Supahawa kachhuwa) and Indian roofed turtle (Pangshura tecta; Tharu: Khapadahawa kachhuwa). During interviews all interlocutors described eating Gauriya kachhuwa and avoiding other land turtles for consumption. Spearing is used to hunt turtles, and it is utilized in marshes, ponds, and lakes. These reptiles are killed for their meat and for medicinal uses, and the community reports that a decline in the turtle populations has been observed near Tharu settlements. Therefore, we argue that an escalation of public awareness and policy advocacy is essential, particularly in rural areas where Tharu communities live, to ensure the survival of these reptiles in the face of mounting anthropogenic challenges.