Local Names : Meghalaya

Garo and Attong names 

 Asian Elephant: Mongma  
 Asiatic Black Bear: Mapil wak  
 Binturong: Matchibil  
 Black-naped Hare: Sapau, Susreng
 Capped Langur: Ranggol
 Chinese Pangolin: Kawate, Gotai
 Clouded Leopard: Matcha chidual, Matcha do.tok  
 Common Leopard: Matcha peng, Matcha chirua  
 Common Palm Civet: Jaha matchru, Baira asru, Menggo apru, Jonga
 Crab-eating Mongoose: Ang.ke rijong

The People’s Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI) envisions the creation of a Linguistic Survey rooted in people’s perception of language.  

PLSI as a nation wide survey is being carried out by members of respective communities, writers, cultural activists, scholars of intangible heritage, practitioners of oral arts and traditions, responsible citizens interested in working out alternate ways of development and scholars who believe in maintaining organic links between scholarship and the social context.

Garo in PLSI

 Gaur: Matchu burung, Mati, Matching   

 Grey Mongoose : Chuna  
 Himalayan Brown Goral:Chon.gipa matron, Matrong
 Himalayan Crestless Porcupine: Okupu matkoltek, Ki.me nogri, Okubu
 Himalayan Marten: Matpra
 Himalayan Palm Civet: Baira amantong, Matchru, Jonga  
 Hog Badger: Waksel, Wak chengbok, Wakwek  
 Hoolock Gibbon:         Huru, Huro
 Indian Pangolin: Kawate
 Indian Porcupine: Pebok, Matmatchi, Okupu
 Indian Wild Pig: Wak burung

 Jackal: Peru
 Jungle Cat: Bijare
 Large Indian Civet: Matchuri gisim, Matchru gipak, Matchuri rokomsa  
 Leopard Cat: Matcha helguk, Matcha helabak
 Malayan Giant Squirrel: Matkarat
 Marbled Cat: Geredong, Matcha bolga, Matcha apru, Matcha kongchek
 Munjtac:         Maraka, Balgitchak  
 Northern Tree Shrew: Mengchut, Mangkotchi  

South Asia is as rich in biodiversity as it is in linguistic diversity.  However, as a colonial legacy publications on natural history and conservation issues are mostly in English. It is essential to engage with the grass-roots public and relevant stakeholders (such as legislators, media persons, forest department) on conservation issues in local languages. This would help them to better understand the subject. This will also help the naturalists, conservationists and wildlife biologists to create awareness among wider sections of the public. There is a close link between language and conservation movement. Hence, it is essential to encourage students to communicate conservation science through vernacular languages.

P. Jeganathan & S. Theodore Baskaran in introduction to their workshop : Language and Ecology – Communicating Nature Through Local Languages

 Pallas’s Squirrel: Matgitchak  
 Parti-coloured Flying squirrel: Matjol, Matwan
 Pig-tailed Macaque: A.brini makkre, Makkre ki.me gri, Waikang, Makkra di.kal timpang
 Red Giant Flying squirrel: Bakwan, Matwan, Matwan do.osarang, Matwal ranggol
 Red Panda: Matcha pantao
 Rhesus Macaque: Makkre chisam
 Royal Bengal Tiger: Matcha nawang, Matcha atte kongchit
 Sambar:         Matchok, Matchok mesam
 Serow: Matrong, Matgisim
 Sloth Bear: Mapil sarang, Mapil
 Slow Loris: Gilwe
 Smooth Indian Otter: Matram, Matdam
 Stump-tailed Macaque: A.brini makkre, Ki.me dongja
 Wild Buffalo: Matma burung
 Wild Dog: Sejal, Se.el

The list was compiled during my days at Baghmara (South Garo Hills) by the entire team then. Duly acknowledging each of the colleagues.