Mithun is consider as the "Cattle of Mountain" as they are reared mostly by mountain living people and also the animal adapted quite well in mountainous type of around 500-3000 mm above sea level. Mithun plays a very vital role in the income of farmers as well in the social & cultural lifestyle of the people. For some, Mithun serves as the daily livelihood to survive & brings their family to stability.
In Arunachal, Mithun are used in ritual and also in marriage. Both for Nagaland & Arunachal, Mithun serves as a vital role in the life of the people.The rearing system of Mithun by most people of Nagaland & Arunachal in traditional way are similar as Mithun are let loose in the forest letting them fed on free choice basis and providing them salt/other food once in a week or in a month or after every 2/3/4 months interval.
Mithun, Bos frontalis, is known to be ‘the pride of Nagaland’. Mithun also called as Nagami by some people and BUICHANG/BUICHIU by the Zeliang tribe. Nagaland has the 2nd highest Mithun population in India as per livestock census 2012 which is next to Arunachal.
The differences of Mithun in Nagaland with that of Arunachal are:-
1) Coat colour: In Nagaland, most predominantly found colour coat are black or black-brown while in Arunachal white patches on body coat are commonly found.
2) Poll (In head): Poll is less prominent in Naga Mithun (Nagami) while poll is more prominent in Arunachali Mithun.
3) Body conformation: Head is broader and less stumpy in Nagami, whereas Arunachali (Mithun) is short and stumpy.
The similarities of Mithun in Nagaland with that of Arunachal are:-
1) Rearing and feeding system which is mostly free range system, so Mithun feed on free choice basis.
2) Controlling of Mithun: Either by tying rope on their nose or neck or head (tying horn).
3) Slaughtering system: Mostly by gun or by spear or by Dao.
Comparision of Livestock Census: As per 2003 census, Arunachal has a Mithun population of 184343, as per 2007 it was 218931 while in 2012, it was 249000. As per 2003 census, Nagaland has a Mithun population of 40452, as per 2007 census it was 33385 while in 2012, it was is 34871. Why is the population of Mithun (Nagami) in Nagaland declining from 2003 -2012 (though a bit increase from 2007 to 2012), though most of the rearing, controlling and feeding system is similar with that of Arunachal (which is increasing in Mithun population)?
The possible reasons for the decline can be: 1) Due to some disease occurrence or can be due to some injury left unattended by the rearer since it is reared in free range system. 2) Due to practising of jhum cultivation in some part of Nagaland resulting in deforestation where animal's freedom and habitat are destroyed. 3) Due to some nutritional deficiency occurrence unattended or not known by the rearer.
Therefore, improvement in the population of Mithun in Nagaland can be achieved by encouraging the rearer, by replacing Jhum cultivation with some other forms of cultivation, encouraging more people to rear Mithun, proper diseases control and vaccination.
