Mithun

Mithun Latest News

Scientists and tribal farmers from the Northeast have jointly raised a request to the Central government to include Mithun (Bos frontalis) under key central sector schemes such as the National Livestock Mission (NLM).

About Mithun

• The Mithun, or gayal (Bos frontalis), is a heavily built, semi-domesticated bovine species.
• Mithun is believed to have originated more than 8000 years ago and is considered to be a descendent of wild Indian gaur, or bison.
• It is known as the ‘cattle of the mountain’.
• Distribution:
• The highest concentration of mithuns in the world is spread over the North Eastern (NE) region of India, with Arunachal Pradesh having the highest population.
• It is also found in parts of Southeast Asia, viz., Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bhutan.
• The geographic zone is covered with tropical evergreen rain forests. 
• It is the state animal of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
• The ‘Soulung’ festival is observed annually by the Adi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh to commemorate the birth and arrival of Mithun on this earth.

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Mithun Features

• Mithun appears somewhat similar to that of the Guar (Indian bison) but is smaller in size.
• Like Guars, they are strongly built, large-sized fleshy animals with an average weight of 400-650 kg.
• The characteristic feature of Mithun lies in the head, which has a well-developed, broad frontal bone with a flat-shaped face, and from the front view, it appears like an inverted triangle from where two horns emerge from the lateral sides.
• Horn colour varies from whitish yellow to salty black in most animals.
• The skin color of the head and body is blackish-brown in both sexes, and the forehead is creamy white or yellowish in color.
• They move in small groups with one or two males and several females and calves.

Mithun Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I

Source: ITNE