The present nation-wide COVID-19 lockdown has severely hit mithun farmers in Mizoram’s Sailulak village in Serchhip along the state border with Myanmar as more than 10 mithuns have been attacked and killed by a pack of wolves, sources said on Saturday.
Sailulak village council president Malsawmdawnga said over phone that unspecified numbers of wolves attacked a herd of mithuns killing more than 10 during the lockdown.
“The incident came to light a few days back was occured following the lockdown in the wake of novel coronavirus spread due to which the cattle were left unattended,” he said.
He said that more than 200 mithuns are being domesticated at several farms located about 7-8 km from the village.
The mithum farmers could not tend their livestock due to the present lockdown.
Majority of the killed mithuns were completely eaten up by the attackers, he said.
According to the leader, Sailulak village houses more than 260 families and about 50 of them are engaged in mithun farming for their living.
He said the farmers are extremely sad for the unprecedented incident as they fear they would not be in a position to repay their loans in time.
“Mithun farming is practice in the village througn the gram sabha with the help of bank loans. The incident has left the farmers in complete confusion as they are unlikely to repay their bank loans,” he said.
He said that home minister Lalchamliana, who was elected from Hrangturzo Assembly constituency under which falls Sailulak village, has extended financial help to the farmers.
Meanwhile, an official of Forest department said the State Goverment has learnt the harship of the farmers and all possible efforts would be made to address their problem once normalcy returns in the state.
She said the State Goverment had compensated mithun farmers in Sailulak village when their cattle were killed by wolves in the past.