Post by warsaw on Sept 2, 2011 4:40:45 GMT -9
1.
Albarracin, Viviana 1 (vivianaalba@yahoo.es) and S. Paisley 2 (s.paisley@kent.ac.uk)
1 Universidad Tecnologica Boliviana
2 Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK
The Jukumari or Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is the only representative of the family Urside in
South America. The tradition, myths and legends that involve this species in the Bolivia are scarce and
disperse, despite of the importance of this species in the culture. This study presents a bibliographical
revision and interviews to indigenous communities collecting information related to this animal is
recognized with diverse common local names, Jukumari or jucumari, Jüyütñeñej; which imply a
mystical sense, a creature intermediate between a human being and a beast, born of the union of a
woman and a bear. In Bolivia during the colonial and republican period, the jukumari acquired a great
symbolic importance in the oral literature, festivities and folkloric dances. The bear is a personage in
folklore manifestations related to the syncretism of catholic religion. In some dances of Bolivia the
bear plays a central figure, as a buffoon's role as in the "Diablada" or the "Morenada", were the
jucumari as main personage of the wildlife. Also is highlighted the powerful image of the bear as a
fight beast; when figthing, they stand in a raised position and use the arms to slap and the claws of an
almost human way. This style of hand-to-hand fighting is inspired in the dance of the "Thinku" that is
initially performed by Qaqachaka and Jukumani indigenous communities of Potosí and Oruro. Some
traditional stories refer to the jukumari as the “Son of the bear” which tells the suffering and
confinement of a woman kidnapped by a bear; Highlighting the jucumari as a mixture of human and
beast, granting its strength and intelligence. Finally I discuss that the beliefs and knowledge that
surrounds the jukumari, can be a tool for the conservation of this species in rural and urban areas.
Albarracin, Viviana 1 (vivianaalba@yahoo.es) and S. Paisley 2 (s.paisley@kent.ac.uk)
1 Universidad Tecnologica Boliviana
2 Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK
The Jukumari or Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is the only representative of the family Urside in
South America. The tradition, myths and legends that involve this species in the Bolivia are scarce and
disperse, despite of the importance of this species in the culture. This study presents a bibliographical
revision and interviews to indigenous communities collecting information related to this animal is
recognized with diverse common local names, Jukumari or jucumari, Jüyütñeñej; which imply a
mystical sense, a creature intermediate between a human being and a beast, born of the union of a
woman and a bear. In Bolivia during the colonial and republican period, the jukumari acquired a great
symbolic importance in the oral literature, festivities and folkloric dances. The bear is a personage in
folklore manifestations related to the syncretism of catholic religion. In some dances of Bolivia the
bear plays a central figure, as a buffoon's role as in the "Diablada" or the "Morenada", were the
jucumari as main personage of the wildlife. Also is highlighted the powerful image of the bear as a
fight beast; when figthing, they stand in a raised position and use the arms to slap and the claws of an
almost human way. This style of hand-to-hand fighting is inspired in the dance of the "Thinku" that is
initially performed by Qaqachaka and Jukumani indigenous communities of Potosí and Oruro. Some
traditional stories refer to the jukumari as the “Son of the bear” which tells the suffering and
confinement of a woman kidnapped by a bear; Highlighting the jucumari as a mixture of human and
beast, granting its strength and intelligence. Finally I discuss that the beliefs and knowledge that
surrounds the jukumari, can be a tool for the conservation of this species in rural and urban areas.