Mithun

Mithun Latest News

Over 200 mithuns have died in a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh in the last one month.

About Mithun

• The Mithun, or gayal, is a heavily built, semi-domesticated bovine species.
• Scientific Name: Bos frontalis
• 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 also known as the ‘cattle of the mountain’.

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Mithun 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 China and 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.

Mithun Features

• It appears somewhat similar to that of Gaur but are distinctly smaller in size. 
• The characteristic feature lies in the head, which has a well-developed, broad frontal bone with a flat-shaped face. 
• 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.
• The other distinguishing features are a small and double dewlap and white stockings.
• They move in small groups with one or two males and several females and calves.

Mithun Conservation Status

It is classified as ‘Vulnerable  ‘ under the IUCN Red List. 

What is Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)?

• It is a severe, highly contagious viral disease that affects all cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, camelids, deer, and pigs. 
  • Cloven-hoofed animals are those with divided hooves. It does not affect horses or zebras. 
• Cause: It is caused by an Aphthovirus of the family Picornaviridae.
• It is a transboundary animal disease (TAD) that deeply affects the production of livestock and disrupts regional and international trade in animals and animal products. 
• Intensively reared animals are more susceptible to the disease than traditional breeds.
• FMD is a disease of animals, not humans, and is a different disease than hand, foot, and mouth disease which is common in young children. 
• FMD is not transmitted to humans by eating affected meat. 
• Transmission: 
  • The virus is transmitted through direct contact between healthy and infected animals. 
  • Indirect contact with contaminated objects (fomites) such as vehicles, clothing, footwear, and bedding can also spread FMDV. 
  • Additionally, consuming contaminated feed or milk can transmit the virus as well as through respiratory aerosols.  
• Symptoms:
  • FMD is characterised by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves.
  • The disease is rarely fatal in adult animals, but there is often high mortality in young animals due to myocarditis.
• Treatment: Vaccination is the only effective preventive measure against FMD.

News: DC