Factors and Solutions for Declining Mithun Population in Nagaland and Manipur: A Perspective
Vivek Joshi*
ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland (797 106), India
Kamni Paia Biam
ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland (797 106), India
M. H. Khan
ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland (797 106), India
DOI: NIL
Keywords: Deforestation, Manipur, Mithun, Nagaland
Abstract
Mithun (Bos frontalis) is a rare bovine species solely found in the hilly forests of Northeast India. In the previous livestock census (2019), a decline of 33.6% and 10.5% in mithun population was recorded in Nagaland and Manipur, respectively. Over the past few years, increased deforestation, unregulated Jhum farming, resurfacing of outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD), frequent attacks of wild dogs on mithun calves and indiscriminate slaughtering of mithun for table purpose might be attributed to a decline in mithun population. Lack of bankable schemes and no regular income from mithun farming have further aggravated the problem. The need of time is to frame legislative laws to check indiscriminate slaughter of elite mithuns, formulate National Mithun Breeding Policy, develop insurance policies for mithun and bring free-ranging mithun under semi-intensive system. Lastly, better vaccination coverage against FMD in mithun might serve as one of the useful tools in mithun conservation.
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Reference
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