Traps of Bamboo, Songs of Valor: Hunting Traditions of the Mro

The Mro people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts maintain a deep-rooted relationship with the forest, where hunting remains both a cultural expression and a communal activity. Although not professional hunters, the Mro engage in hunting and fishing primarily for sustenance and recreation, guided by long-established customs, social codes, and intricate trapping methods. This article documents the diverse hunting techniques and instruments used by the Mro, as well as the cultural values that frame them.

Cultural Context and Communal Norms

Hunting among the Mro is a community-oriented practice. Wild boars, deer, bison, and birds are commonly hunted. When a successful hunt occurs, the meat is cooked at the hunter’s home and shared among all villagers. The head and right thigh of a large animal are customarily reserved for the hunter. If a trap or firearm belonging to another person is used, the owner is entitled to a share—typically a leg of the animal or one-third of the fish catch in case of nets. Skulls of hunted animals are often displayed on the walls of homes as symbols of valor. These stories of bravery are preserved through folk songs, dances, and dramatic re-enactments during village festivals.

Hunting and Trapping Techniques

The Mro employ a range of traditional traps and strategies, crafted from natural materials and used with intimate knowledge of animal behavior. Some notable methods include:

Lengchak (Noose Trap)

A looped rope trap made from tree bark is set on animal trails. When stepped on, the rope tightens around the animal’s leg, making escape impossible even for strong animals.

Dongkom (Neck Snare)

A snare trap designed to catch animals by the neck. A slipknot is tied on one end of a rope, fixed tightly to a tree or bamboo stake. As the animal walks through, it triggers the loop to tighten around its neck.

Klong (Log Drop Trap)

A heavy log (20–30 kg) is suspended and tied to a trigger mechanism. When tripped, the log falls on the animal, killing it through impact.

Saud (Spear Trap)

A deadly trap using sharpened bamboo spears. When a vine connected to the spear is broken by the animal’s movement, the spear is launched, piercing the target.

Kom (Weighted Basket Trap)

A soil-filled bamboo basket is suspended above ground with food bait. When the bait is disturbed, the trap falls, crushing the animal underneath.

Wam (Pit Trap with Spears)

A large, concealed pit is dug and filled with sharpened bamboo stakes. Covered with foliage, the pit traps and kills animals that fall in. This method is similar to those seen in guerrilla warfare tactics.

Chek (Live Capture Enclosure)

Constructed from matured bamboo, a cage with a baited entry is designed to trap animals alive. When the animal pulls the bait, the door shuts behind it.

Rau-a (Spear Pod for Monkeys)

A sharpened bamboo spear is inserted into a bamboo tube and baited with maize. Hung from treetops near crop fields, it targets monkeys known for raiding farms. When the monkey pulls the maize, it gets impaled.

Piya Nai (Birdlime Trap)

A sticky gum made from wild fig and banyan sap is applied to branches along with insects as bait. When birds land to feed, they get stuck and are easily caught.

Yai’ba (Bamboo Sling or Dart Shooter)

A dart-launching device, fashioned like a bow but with a basket-shaped projectile holder. Made from bamboo and rattan, it’s used to hunt birds, squirrels, and small mammals.

Kua Hur (Smoke-Driven Porcupine Trap)

Porcupines that live in underground burrows are smoked out using burning dried leaves, chili, and rice husks. Exits are blocked with cone-shaped baskets so that escaping animals are captured.

Prutchak (Communal Drive Hunting)

Villagers organize group hunts where they drive animals toward concealed hunters with firearms. This method relies on group coordination and noise to herd animals into ambush zones.

Mitchak (Solitary Hunting)

A single hunter, usually at dusk, waits silently with a firearm near animal trails. Avoiding scents or noise is crucial, as animals will avoid unfamiliar smells.

Fishing Methods

The Mro also practice diverse fishing methods that reflect both ecological understanding and local craftsmanship:

Tyengchong (Basket Trap for Fish and Crabs)

A conical fish trap (called “Chong”) allows fish and crabs to enter but prevents them from exiting. These are placed in promising water channels overnight.

Weng-A (Water Drain Fishing)

In winter, small pools formed in drying streams are drained manually to collect fish, shrimp, and crabs that have taken shelter.

Dam-A (Basket Scooping Method)

Mro women often scoop fish from streams using large bamboo baskets. By driving fish into the basket with coordinated hand movements, they trap and collect aquatic creatures.

The hunting and fishing practices of the Mro are not merely survival strategies—they are interwoven with their worldview, ethics of sharing, and cultural expressions. Each trap and technique reflects a nuanced understanding of the forest ecology and animal behavior, sustained over generations. As modern pressures and environmental changes alter indigenous lifestyles, documenting such practices becomes critical to preserving both cultural heritage and ecological knowledge.