THOUBAL, February 8: The population of Mithun (Bos Frontalis), an animal which plays an important role in the economic, social and cultural life of the tribal people, is fast declining in Chandel district. Unless appropriate measures are taken up at the earliest, the animal species could go extinct in the district soon, said K Prakash Maring, president of Chandel District Animal Farmers Welfare Union.
While interacting with media persons today at the union`s office at Pallel, K Prakash Maring said that, Mithun is reared for its meat animal in most parts of the district.
However, it is observed recently that their population has been declining fast due to lack of proper development program specifically for Mithun and the farmers in the state, he lamented.
The farmers have faced several problems while rearing Mithun due to unavailability of scientific breeding center, proper fencing, disease control programmes and other welfare schemes for them, he continued.
As a result, there has been decreased in the numbers of farmers engaged in Mithun rearing which in turn has also led to the declining population of Mithun in the district, he added.
He further said that in order to highlight 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 of Mithuns and other cattle recently.
Farmers who are yet to vaccinate their animals may intimate the office to avail the facility, he informed.
He has further appealed to the state government to allocate special budget for the development of Mithun and its farmers under the Animal Husbandry department in the forthcoming state assembly session.
It may be mentioned that the union has also submitted a memorandum to the chief minister last month demanding implementation of the welfare schemes for the farmers rearing animals and to construct veterinary hospital and scientific animal breeding centres in the district.