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Article History

Received: 28 January 2026

Accepted: 15 April 2026

First Online: 22 April 2026

Declarations

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: Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Mizan Tepi University (Approval No. MTU/IRB/2024/07), following formal permission from the Andracha District Administration. Collection, transportation, and deposition of animal specimens for voucher purposes were authorized by the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (Permit No. EWCA/2024/12), with specimens deposited at the Mizan Tepi University Zoological Repository. All participants were fully informed about the study objectives, procedures, potential risks, and anticipated benefits prior to data collection. Informed consent was obtained verbally or in writing, according to participant preference, and participants were made aware that they could withdraw at any time without penalty. The study followed institutional guidelines and the International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) Code of Ethics, including respecting local customs, maintaining confidentiality, and obtaining prior informed consent.Participants’ information was used solely for research purposes with their explicit approval. The study documents traditional ethnozoological knowledge and practices but does not endorse the ingestion or application of potentially hazardous animal products, such as raw meat, blood, or human excreta. All authors voluntarily participated in and contributed to the conduct of this study.

: All participants provided consent for the publication of study findings in a manner that ensures their anonymity. No individual participant is identifiable from the data, tables, or figures presented. The authors confirm that publication of these results respects privacy and confidentiality and adheres to the International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) Code of Ethics.

: The authors declare no competing interests.