Guwahati. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma said on Tuesday that the bovine animal Mithun has been seen in the state for the first time. The scientific name of Mithun is ‘Bos Frontalis’. It is the state animal of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland and is also found in the hills of Manipur and Mizoram.
Sharma wrote on the social media platform ‘X’, “Assam has added one more creature to its biodiversity. We have seen Mithun (Bos Frontalis) in the hilly areas of Dima Hasao which is another beautiful addition to the diversity of our fauna.” Sharma said that those species found in the foothills of the Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland have now made Assam their new home, which is also mentioned in the Mahabharata.
He said, “Congratulations to the Assam Forest Department for the excellent work of protecting, preserving and managing our precious forests.” Recently, veterinary experts spotted Mithun in three remote areas – Laisong, Langting and Thaijuwari – in Dima Hasao district of central Assam.
The district animal husbandry and veterinary officer said that these areas are inhabited by the Zeme Naga people and the presence of more than 200 mithuns has been recorded in these three remote areas. The officer said that farmers who have been rearing bovine animals for generations need help, as these animals suffer from foot and mouth disease and other diseases. He said that the presence of mithun in Assam adds a new chapter to the agricultural diversity of the state. Mithuns are considered valuable for their meat, milk, load-bearing capacity and play an important role in the socio-economic and cultural life of many tribal communities of the Northeast.