Yupia, May 2: Concerns over the increasing number of mithun deaths caused by wild dogs were raised during a meeting held with members of the Doimukh-Gumto Circle Mithun Farmers’ Club at the DC's Conference Hall here on Thursday.
Chairing the meeting, Papum Pare deputy commissioner Jiken Bomjen said the rise in attacks by wild dogs, or dholes, on mithuns was linked to ecological imbalances caused by overhunting of smaller herbivores. He called for collective attention to the issue, citing its impact on both biodiversity and rural livelihoods.
Recognising the cultural and economic value of mithuns among tribal communities, Bomjen assured farmers of administrative support in securing compensation. He advised them to follow due procedure and submit the required documentation to the appropriate authorities.
Mithun Farmers’ Club chairperson Chukhu Taji informed the gathering that 52 mithuns had been killed by wild dogs in the past four months. He said the forest department had rejected compensation claims in several cases due to the absence of post-mortem reports and requested that the government ease procedural requirements for remote areas.
Taji noted that wildlife conservation laws had led to a ban on hunting, contributing to a rise in wild dog populations. He urged the Forest department to explore regulatory measures to mitigate further losses.
Goan Buras present at the meeting voiced dissatisfaction over continued livestock losses and challenges faced by rural communities. They said there was a need for improved coordination between villagers and the government.
Senior veterinary officer TR Nabam Hina suggested allowing post-mortem certifications based on photographic evidence, along with endorsements from village elders and forest officials. He also advocated for ear-tagging of mithuns to facilitate ownership verification and compensation claims.
Doimukh sub-divisional officer Kipa Raja and Gumto circle officer Afa Phassang advised mithun owners to promptly report deaths, particularly those near the Assam border, and cautioned against premature assumptions of poisoning.
Officials proposed setting up circle-level committees to review compensation requests, standardising forms across departments, geo-tagging mithun carcasses to prevent claim duplication, and exploring microchip technology for tracking animals.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on enhancing awareness campaigns on ear-tagging, vaccinations, and preventive care, to be led by the animal husbandry department.
