The Ethnozoolgy: Traditional Knowledge and Animal Use by Osing Tribe in Banyuwangi, Indonesia

Abstract

The Osing tribal community has very strong characteristics, especially consistency, order, and obedience to carry out and preserve the traditions and cultural heritage of their ancestors, in the midst of modern social conditions and sophisticated information technology. However, in supporting a healthy and hygienic daily routine, they also consider the importance of the need for animal protein in addition to vegetable protein because most of them work as farmers who rely on physical energy to carry out their activities.  The research aims to reveal the traditional knowledge of the Osing people about the wealth, role, and benefits of animals that live in their environment, as well as the economic value of domesticated animals for their welfare. The research uses an exploratory method based on an emic approach, besides that data collection is also carried out through unstructured interviews, and data analysis using cross-checking, summarizing and synthesizing methods. The results showed that the number of animal species richness known by the Osing community was 91 species from 66 families and 12 classes. All of these animals have roles and benefits for the lives of the Osing people as follows: 1) basic intake of animal protein, 2) cultivated plant pests, 3) the need for pleasure, 4) traditional medicinal ingredients, 5) traditional ritual purposes, 6) animal predators livestock, and 7) decomposer organic matter. The economic value of the 4 animal species that have been domesticated to meet the subsistence needs of the Osing people is IDR 2,252,610,000/head of family/year or IDR 187,717,500/head of family/month.