Bushra Sayyad, Maryam Faiz, Muhammad Jahangeer and Ayesha Atta
SUMMARY
There are 6,036 mammalian species worldwide, while 195 species of mammals are documented in Pakistan, and 41 mammalian species are noted from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. The main objectives of the study are to know the diversity of mammals and the traditional medicinal uses of mammalian species in the study area. The linear count method was applied to assess mammalian diversity. To evaluate mammal diversity, both direct and indirect methods were used. Ethnomammalogical data were collected through questionnaires. The questionnaires consisted of personal profiles, species information, and ethnopharmacological uses of the species. A survey of mammalian diversity in Muzaffarabad found 12 species from 5 orders, 9 families, and 12 genera. The Dominance Index (D= 0.1385) indicates a relatively low concentration of individuals within a few species, suggesting a balanced community structure. This is further supported by the high Simpson Index (S = 0.8615), which indicates high diversity and a low likelihood that two randomly selected individuals belong to the same species. The Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H’= 2.222) shows moderate to high species diversity, while the Evenness Index (E = 0.769) indicates that individuals are fairly evenly distributed among the observed taxa. The Richness Index (R = 2.626) indicates a satisfactory level of species richness in comparison to the sample size. According to respondents, the meat and fat of the Indian crested porcupine are used topically to treat asthma, joint pain, skin issues, and wound healing. The skin, meat, and fat of the Rhesus macaque are used topically and taken orally to treat impotence, asthma, and joint pain.
Keywords: Ethnomammalogy, Mammalogy, Diversity, Ecology
Citation: Sayyad, B., M. Faiz, M. Jahangeer, and A. Atta. 2026. Assessment of Mammalian Diversity and Ethnopharmacological Uses in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Journal of Wildlife and Ecology. 10: 53-64. doi.org/10.66470/10105