Mithun: An Animal of Indian Pride

摘要

Mithun,alsoknownas#8216;CattleofMountain#8221;isanimportantbovinespeciesofnorth-easternhillregionofIndiaandalsoofChina,Myanmar,BhutanandBangladesh.Thismagnificentmassivebovineispresentlyrearedunderfree-rangeconditioninthehillforestsatanaltitudeof1000to3000mabovemeansealevel.Mithunplaysanimportantroleinthesocio-economicandculturallifeofthelocaltribalpopulation.Presently,thisanimalismainlyrearedformeat,whichisconsideredtobemoretenderandsuperioroverthemeatofanyotherspecies.Mithunmilk,thoughproducedlessinquantity,isofhighqualityandcanbeusedforpreparationofvariousmilkproducts.Leatherobtainedfromthisspecieshasbeenfoundtobesuperiortocattle.WiththedwindlingpopulationofMithunovertheyearsandgradualdenudationoffreerangeareaalongwiththebioticandabioticstress,thereisurgentneedofscientificinterventionforpropermanagementaswellasconservationofthisbeautifulhillanimalthroughimplementinganeffectiveconservationprogram.