Mithun (Bos frontalis)

About Mithun (Bos frontalis)

• Mithun is a semi-domesticated bovine species native to the Eastern Himalayan region.
• Scientific name: Their scientific name is Bos frontalis.
  • They are also known as gayal and ‘cattle of the mountain’.
• Origin: They are believed to have originated more than 8000 years ago.
  • They are also considered to be a descendent of wild Indian gaur, or bison.
• State animal: They are state animal of both Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
• Habitat: Their natural habitat is characterized by dense vegetation, including shrubs, trees, bamboo, and coarse grasses, along with access to perennial water sources.
• Distribution:
  • The North-Eastern (NE) region of India has the world’s highest concentration of Mithuns.
    • Arunachal Pradesh accounts for nearly 70% of India’s mithun population.
    • The remaining population is distributed across Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
  • They are also found in China and parts of Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bhutan.
• Characteristics features: 
  • Appearance: Their most characteristic feature is its head, which has a broad, well-developed frontal bone and a flat-shaped face.
    • In contrast with the gaur, they have a smaller body size and a broader skull, which is why they are also called “forehead cattle”.  
    • The head appears like an inverted triangle from inforont, with two horns emerging laterally from either side.
      • The horns generally range in colour from whitish-yellow to dark or salty black.
    • The head and body are blackish-brown in both males and females, while the forehead is typically creamy white or yellowish.
    • They have small, double dewlap and distinctive white stockings on its legs.
  • Diet: They mainly feeds on grasses, leaves, shoots and other vegetation.
  • Social Behaviour: They usually move in small groups, generally consisting of one or two males along with several females and calves.
• Population status: According to the 20th Livestock Census (2019), India has nearly 384,000 mithuns.
• Importance: Mithun has major cultural, social and economic significance among several Indigenous communities of Northeast India.
  • The Soulung Festival, celebrated annually by the Adi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, commemorates the traditional belief surrounding the birth and arrival of the Mithun on Earth.
  • It may be kept as a symbol of wealth and used in traditional ceremonies and exchanges.
• Threats:
  • Habitat loss
  • Inbreeding
  • Crossbreeding with cattle
  • Excessive slaughter for meat
  • Food shortages
  • Diseases
  • Climate change
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: It is classified as ‘Vulnerable’.