Mithun on the verge of extinction in Chandel
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Kakching, February 08 2014 : The number of Mithun (Bos Frontalis), an animal which plays an important role in the socio-economic and cultural life of the tribal people, is declining fast in Chandel District and if appropriate measures were not taken up at the earliest it may extinct altogether in the near future, says K.Prakash Maring, President of Chandel District Animal Farmers Welfare Union.

Interacting with media persons today at the Union's Office located at Pallel, K.Prakash Maring said that Mithun is reared as a meat animal in most parts of the District.

However, it has been observed of late that their population is declining fast due to lack of initiative for encouraging the farmers rearing Mithun from the side of the State government.

The farmers of the District faced many problems while rearing Mithun due to unavailable of scientific breeding center, proper fencing, diseases control programmes and other welfare schemes for the farmers.

As a result, there has been steady decreased in the number of farmers who engaged in Mithun rearing.

This has in turn leads to decline in the number of Mithun in the District, he added.

Prakash Maring further said that to resolve some of the grievances of the farmers in the District, the Chandel District Animal Farmers Welfare Union in collaboration with the District Veterinary Office, Chandel conducted trainings, workshops for the farmers and mass vaccination programme of Mithun and cattles recently and the effort is still going on.

Farmers who do not get vaccinated their animals may intimate the Union's Office to avail the vaccination facility, he informed.

Furthermore, he appealed to the state government to allocate special budget for the development of Mithun and its farmers under Animals and Husbandry Department in the forth coming State Assembly Session.

It is learnt that the Union has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister last month demanding implementation of welfare schemes for the animal rearing farmers, to construct a Veterinary Hospital and scientific animal breeding centres in the District among others.

But the Union has not received any response from the side of the State Government, particularly the Chief Minister and the Minister concerned.

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