Study of ethnoveterinary medicine practices in a global hotspot of India using ecological modelling: why and where?

Northeast India, which is part of the Himalayan and Indo-Burma global hotspot, has excellent potential for animal husbandry, but veterinary care is inadequate. The reporting of ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) practices is scarce, despite adequate bioresources and the looming threat of traditional knowledge disappearance. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the probable localities for tracing and conserving cultural/ethnoveterinary practices associated with EVM species. MaxEnt species distribution modelling was adopted in this study to precisely delineate potential habitats of different suitability classes and determine habitat-controlling factors. Model validity was ascertained using common evaluator AUC (0.700 to 0.847) and model-specific (presence-only) evaluator CBI (0.495 to 0.945) values. The three vital variables for different species contributing to habitat prediction were bio17 (precipitation of driest quarter), bio4 (temperature seasonality), and bio2 (mean diurnal range) in this region. The corresponding ranges of these three variables, 20 to 80 mm, 300 to 800 (ratio), and 7 to 13 °C, respectively, controlled species potential distribution. The suitable habitats of the studied species ranged between 203,655 (78%) and 262,155 (>99%) km2, out of the available 262,185 km2. Potentially suitable unreported areas in many districts could be used for the exploration of EVM species and practices, and for recording the traditional knowledge of EVM, which otherwise may be lost in the future. At the same time, a moderately and highly suitable area, if needed, could be used for the introduction or reintroduction of species for increasing the resource base. The data generated in this study could be useful for policymakers and other stakeholders.