Similipal kai chutney

About Similipal Kai Chutney:

• The savoury chutney is popular in Mayurbhanj region for its healing properties and also deemed important for nutritional security of the tribal people. 
• Many indigenous people from Mayurbhanj district venture into nearby forest to collect kai pimpudi (red weaver ant).
• Around 500 tribal families have been eking out a living by collecting and selling these insects and a chutney made with them. 
• Health benefits:
  • The scientists analysed the red weaver ants and found it contains valuable proteins, calcium, zinc, vitamin B-12, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, amino acids, among others. Consuming the species can help boost the immune system and prevent diseases.
  • The tribal healers also prepare a medicinal oil in which they dip the ants along with pure mustard oil.
  • After a month, this concoction is used as body oil for babies and to cure rheumatism, gout, ringworm and other diseases by the tribes.
  • The local people also consume this to stay fit and strong.

Key facts about Red Weaver Ants:

• These are indigenous to Mayurbhanj and are found in abundance in the jungles of every block area of the district, including in the Similipal Tiger Reserve, throughout the year.
• They form colonies with multiple nests in trees. Each nest is made of leaves stitched together with the silk produced by their larvae.
• They mostly lodge in trees like mango, sal, jambu and jackfruit. The nests are strong enough against wind and impermeable to water. 
• Kai’s nests are usually elliptical in shape and range in size from single small leaf folded and bound onto itself to large nest consisting of many leaves.
• The Kai families consist of three categories of members — workers, major workers and queens. Workers and major workers are mostly orange coloured.