This article is in the hope that familiarity will help generate public awareness towards this under-appreciated species
Femi E Benny
Often misunderstood as a domesticated type of Indian Gaur because of the similar appearance Mithun/Gayal is a unique bovine species endemic to Northeast India, Bangladesh, China, and Myanmar. It is an important cultural resource of the ethnic tribes of Northeast India, especially Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. It is the only semi-domesticated bovine species often reared in free-range conditions. The Mithun population of India are distributed unevenly across Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur, with the largest population in Arunachal followed by Nagaland. This massive and magnificent bovine produces only a single calf per year. They are often associated with playing multidimensional roles in tribal lives. It is a symbol of prestige for the ethnic communities as well as a traditional medium of exchange in the barter system.
My first encounter with Mithun was during my last fieldwork in Nagaland, from Pulie-badze Wildlife Sanctuary. I was astonished and at the same time afraid of the massive giant in front of me, but my field assistants assured me that the animal is harmless. What I saw was a freely foraging Nagami strain of Mithun.
The present situation
In recent years, there has been a shift in the public attitude towards Mithun from cultural to commercial, which has resulted in the drastic decline of the Mithun population in the Northeast. The decline in population might result in inbreeding in the near future thus reducing genetic diversity and eventually culminating in extinction. With minimal efforts taken for its conservation and sustainable management, the species will soon be a myth. An urgent call to action is required in this matter and it’s time to focus the media limelight on the state animal of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Scientific intervention through the implementation of an effective rearing system might help.
More about Mithun and its habitat
Mithun is thought to be a descendant of the wild Indian Gaur, which originated 8000 years ago. Mithun (Bos frontalis Lambert) was first described in 1804 by Aylmer Bourke Lambert. It belongs to the Bovidae family and the subfamily Bovinae. They are of the same Genus as the Indian gaur (Bosgaurus). In India, they inhabit the hilly regions of the Northeast and hence called ‘cattle of the mountains’ or ‘ship of the highland’. They prefer cold and mild climate and forages of forest leaves, shrubs and grasses. Hence they are essentially browsers and not grazers. An adult Mithun weighs up to 600kg. The adult lifespan is around 18 years. They produce one calf per year under normal conditions. A lactating female normally produces up to 1.5 litres of milk, though it is not a regularly milked animal.
The quality of the milk is considered superior to cattle and goat in terms of protein and fat. There is a huge demand for Mithun’s meat and is priced at 300-400/kg in Itanagar. They prefer hilly forest areas for foraging, and frequently visit catchment areas of streams for salt licking. Ethnic people often feed salt to them, and they readily lick it off from their hands. This is a case of an animal living on such friendly terms with humans.
Different strains of Mithun
Scientists have identified 4 distinct strains of Mithun in India. These strains differ from each other in appearance as well as genotypically. They are named in accordance with the State in which they are present- Arunachalee, Nagami, Mizoram, and Manipuri.
Cultural significance
In the Northeast Mithun is a brand of pride and prestige in itself. The wealth of a family is counted based on the number of Mithun’s they possess. Among the Adi, Apatani, Galo, Nyishi and Tagin communities of Arunachal Pradesh when a girl is married off Mithun is also given as dowry. The families that give a feast to the villagers by slaughtering Mithun has a unique place in the village. In some local folklores, Mithun’s are believed to be descendants of the sun.
Ethnic people of Nagaland uses Mithun’s horn as ‘haciha’; a prestigious drinking vessel for drinking wine and beer. In Nagaland every single wall, government buildings, village entrance, places of gathering has Mithun’s symbol etched on the walls or stone pillars, thus showing the importance this animal has as a State pride. Possession of Mithun is a sign of prosperity and superiority in the villages. In several religious rituals, Mithun is sacrificed to appease the Gods. Mithun’s are not fed by the owners, instead, they live freely in the community forests. These animals do identify their owners and occasionally approach them for salt. There is no investment required in keeping Mithun’s.
Popular folklore among the Chakhesang tribe of Thetsumi village is that man and Mithun shared the same womb and hence are supposed to cherish each other. These people believe that a Mithun will never trample a human, when on run. Also in order to find the most fertile land, they let Mithun walk ahead of them and when it stops that place is considered to be ideal.
For the rural communities, sale of Mithun is an important mode of exchange for raising money for the education of their children, marriage and other functions. It is an important part of rural livelihood.
Traditionally Mithun was sacrificed for meat only during important social or cultural ceremonies. But over the past few years, Mithun is getting highly commercialized, with its meat being preferred over cattle and buffalo for its taste and tenderness. As a result, nowadays Mithun is considered purely as a meat animal.
Threats to Mithun population
The major threats to the Mithun population are the rapid deforestation, foot and mouth disease, changes in land-use patterns as well as the transition from an animal of cultural importance into a commercial animal. This animal depends solely on forest leaves and shrubs and hence every single plant in the forests of the Northeastern states do count for its survival. With the current rate of deforestation happening in the Northeast, the dwindling population of Mithun’s does not need further explanation.
Required conservation strategies
Germplasm conservation and propagation are the suggested strategies for conserving this animal in order to stabilize its population. Since it is an endemic species it is really important for the states that possess Mithuns to take adequate measures to conserve their population.
So far only a few initiatives have been taken from the side of the Government to conserve this species. With the current rate of population decline, the species will soon be extinct if not taken immediate care. The National Research Centre on Mithun, Dimapur, Nagaland is the pioneer in the state in Mithun conservation. They are making conscious efforts to propagate germplasm.
A Mithun forest is established in Thetsumi village of Nagaland, in an attempt to conserve and protect Mithun as well the community forests and to give enough time for regeneration of the forest. Such initiative can work wonders on the Mithun population as well as on the general biodiversity of the area. Public awareness has to be raised and government schemes like providing insurance to Mithun’s, the way it is done for cattle has to be implemented. Incentives can be provided for constructing Mithun sheds, and Mithun’s can be trained to return home every evening so that they can be observed on a daily basis for any abnormality. Such activities will encourage Mithun farmers not to give up on this prestigious and traditional practice of Mithun rearing.
With minimal interventions like the above said Mithun farming can be developed into an alternate livelihood opportunity for the rural people, which at the same time benefits environment in that the forests get plenty of time to regenerate into previous form.
Acknowledgement
The author would like to acknowledge the DBT funded project “North East India Bioresources and Sustainable Livelihood in Northeast India” and Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) Bangalore.
References
• Mondal, M., Baruah, K. K., & Rajkhowa, C. (2014). Mithun: an animal of Indian pride. Livest. Res. Rural Dev, 26(6), 10-1016. http://www.nrcmithun.res.in/GlimpseOfRP/40.pdf.
• Moyong, O. (2012). Commoditisation and sustainable management of mithun (Bos frontalis) in Arunachal Pradesh, North-east India. J Agric Vet Sci, 1(3), 39-43. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1080.2494&rep=rep1&type=pdf
• Mech, A., Dhali, A., Prakash, B., &Rajkhowa, C. (2008). Variation in milk yield and milk composition during the entire lactation period in Mithun cows (Bos frontalis). Livestock Research for Rural Development, 20(5), 56-57.http://www.nrcmithun.res.in/GlimpseOfRP/40.pdf
• Rajkhowa, S., Rajkhowa, C., & Bujarbaruah, K. M. (2003). Diseases of mithun (Bos frontalis)-a review. Veterinary Bulletin, 73(4).https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20033049959
• Giasuddin, M., Huque, K. S., & Alam, J. (2003). Reproductive potentials of gayal (Bos frontalis) under semi-intensive management. Asian-australasian journal of animal sciences, 16(3), 331-334.https://www.koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO200310103463210.page
The writer is a Ph.D. Scholar, Conservation Science and Sustainability Studies, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment, Bangalore.
