Sal Khapri as endangered animal having medicinal uses in Chhattisgarh, India

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

When the farmers suffering from heavy infestation of Diar (Termites) in crop field ask me that why Termite population is increasing day by day, I reply them explaining many responsible reasons. The decreasing natural population of Sal Khapri is one of the major reasons. Sal Khapri is known as Pangolin or Scaly Ant Eater (Manis species). It eats away the harmful Termites (White ants) from their mound and plays an important role in maintaining its natural population. Sal Khapri is well known animal in Chhattisgarh. The old generation is much aware of its occurrence as now a days, it has became rare and endangered. I have seen it only once accidentally. Basically it is shy animal. The senior traditional healers of Chhattisgarh informed me that every organ of this animal is useful as medicine and this is the main reason for its decreasing population in Chhattisgarh. In tribal belts, the natives eat its flesh with taste. In reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India, many valuable medicinal properties and uses of Sal Khapri have been described. According to these literatures, its flesh possess aphrodisiac properties. In Hindi it is known as Shalaki or Salak. Its names Shalaki, Salak, Sal Khapri or Scaly Ant Eater are based on its scaly body. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh recommend the Khapri (Scale) of Sal Khapri both internally and externally in treatment of many common diseases. They prepare special mala and ring from this scale and suggest the patients having the problem of gout to wear it. The traditional healers have deep faith in its effectiveness.

Its effectiveness is the reason that hundreds of Sal Khapri have been killed in last few decades. Now the healers are worrying of its decreasing population. They informed me that after seeing its decreasing population, they have started recommending other herbal substitutes for treatment of gout and rheumatism. The herb collectors informed that there is a high demand of these scales as medicine in national and international market. It is the demand from outside, in fact posing threat on natural population. Through local Newspaper, we frequently get information about its natural occurrence around the hills of Jabalpur (M.P.), In Chhattisgarh, it occurs naturally in Sal forests and it is not wrong to consider it as an essential component of Sal forest ecosystem. I have visited Sal (Shorea robusta) forests many times but as mentioned early, not observed this animal. Basically it is a burrowing nocturnal animal. Dr. Tej Kumar Shrestha have written in detail about this animal in his famous book "Mammals of Nepal" published in year 1997. According to this book, Salkhapri measures 58 cm head and body and 45 cm tail. It has 18 rows of overlapping scales around the body. It possess both hair and scales, an unusual combination for mammals. "In Nepal, it is also used as medicine. The book describes that Tamangs believe that an extract of the uterus or 'garvaeulo' of the Pangolins safe guard against abortion." The healers of Chhattisgarh are not aware of this use. Few days back, local Newspaper reported that a forest ranger have captured one Sal Khapri from Mahasamund region of Chhattisgarh and as usual, to protect this rare species, the forest department has kept it in cage. In cage, Sal Khapri is not feeling well and stopped food intake. In place of its original food, the workers are supplying fresh meat to it.

I personally feel that this is not fair treatment with Sal Khapri and there is a need to release it immediately, in its natural habitat. Every time I see, the scales of Sal Khapri with the herb vendors, I never miss to suggest them, to stop its use and brief them that why it is necessary to conserve this animal? A farmer from Tilda region suggested me to promote its domestication as it is Termite's enemy, it means farmer's friend. The idea is not bad. The proper care through domestication will help the Sal Kapri to increase in number. Sal Khapri is now becoming one more interesting topic on which I wish to conduct detailed surveys in Chhattisgarh. Thank you very much for reading the article.