Image: Pygmies hunting for food. Digital image. NBC News. Todd Pitman, n.d. Web.
Pygmies: Certain type of people that generally have a short stature and live in Africa and parts of Asia
There are four major groups of pygmies currently living in the African rain forest but there are many other smaller and less known groups.
Most groups of pygmies live in groups of 15-70 people. Women and men work together to survive in their environment. Women gather food using baskets, lure animals into nets, and share responsibility for each others children. Men set out to hunt small animals and insects and search for food. Pygmies are very good hunters, most groups often have their own technique that differs from the others on how to catch their food. Some groups use a bow and arrow or crossbow while others prefer to lure an animal into a net. They have a great deal of respect for the animals they capture and do not hunt for the fun of it. Pygmies mostly eat yam, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, small animals, termites, caterpillars, honey, and nuts. Unfortunately more animals are being killed for their meat due to the increase in villagers needing it. Pygmies are now being hired as ivory poachers for endangered African elephants to make more money.
Pygmies move to new shelter very often throughout the year. This lifestyle helps the environment because it can't be misused/ taken advantage of it's minerals or other resources.
Pygmies: Certain type of people that generally have a short stature and live in Africa and parts of Asia
There are four major groups of pygmies currently living in the African rain forest but there are many other smaller and less known groups.
- The Mbuti (who are rarely over 5 feet tall)
- The Aka (they live in the Central African Republic/northern Congo)
- The Baka (they live in Southern Cameroon)
- The Twa (they live in Central Congo/ Zaire river basin)
Most groups of pygmies live in groups of 15-70 people. Women and men work together to survive in their environment. Women gather food using baskets, lure animals into nets, and share responsibility for each others children. Men set out to hunt small animals and insects and search for food. Pygmies are very good hunters, most groups often have their own technique that differs from the others on how to catch their food. Some groups use a bow and arrow or crossbow while others prefer to lure an animal into a net. They have a great deal of respect for the animals they capture and do not hunt for the fun of it. Pygmies mostly eat yam, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, small animals, termites, caterpillars, honey, and nuts. Unfortunately more animals are being killed for their meat due to the increase in villagers needing it. Pygmies are now being hired as ivory poachers for endangered African elephants to make more money.
Pygmies move to new shelter very often throughout the year. This lifestyle helps the environment because it can't be misused/ taken advantage of it's minerals or other resources.