Ecosystems

Peoples of Asian forests

Many are the peoples that live in the Asian rainforests: the Yumbri in Thailand, the negritos Pygmies and the Sarawak in Malaysia, the Tasaday in the Philippines, the Gajo, Mentawai, Badui, Tenggerese in Indonesia, etc. All these peoples have been forced to retreat in the forests with time because of the arrival of more developed peoples that settled in the arable areas. Since then, they have developed a number of survival strategies. Hunting is their main activity: the tips of their arrows are soaked in natural poisons that can kill their preys. They are good hunters and with a blowpipe they can kill animals from a distance of over 50 metres. In New Guinea, the pig is a staple of the economy of these communities since it is the main source of proteins. Having a pig is a sign of wealth and prestige and killing one requires a ceremony that attracts tribes from everywhere. Since the forest environment is extremely rich in vegetation, these communities supplement their diets with fruits and plants. They also make drugs with plants, by making use of the thorough knowledge they have acquired over the centuries, and attract botanists and agronomists from all over the world.