Editor,
Yesterday, while passing by Heema Hospital, Itanagar, I witnessed a heartbreaking scene – a mithun, the revered state animal of Arunachal Pradesh, rummaging through a heap of garbage and consuming plastic. The sight filled me with both awe and sorrow. Once a majestic creature that roamed freely through the wild forests, the mithun is not just an animal to the Tani people – it is a living symbol of our identity, pride, and cultural heritage.
For generations, our ancestors held the mithun in the highest regard. It played a central role in our marriages, festivals, rituals, customary laws, and offerings to nature. It was never merely a source of meat or a commercial asset – it was sacred. Yet today, this noble animal is being exploited for profit and subjected to inhumane conditions. Seeing it reduced to scavenging for food among plastic waste is nothing short of disgraceful.
This painful image reminds me of the folklore of Tai Bida, a legendary figure in Arunachal. According to the tale, Tai Bida once captured a wild mithun, which brought him immense prosperity. But his greed and ungratefulness led to the disappearance of the mithun in Gekar Sinyi (now called Ganga Lake) – and with it, all his wealth. This story is not just folklore; it is a warning.
Today’s exploitation and neglect of the mithun mirror the cautionary tale of Tai Bida. If we continue down this path – ignoring environmental degradation and the erosion of our cultural roots – we risk losing not just a species but a vital part of who we are.
The time to act is now. Government bodies, community-based organizations, and NGOs must come together to regulate mithun trade and ensure their proper treatment. Conservation efforts must be strengthened and awareness raised about the cultural and ecological significance of this animal.
The mithun is not just the pride of our past – it must be the promise of our future. Let us protect it, not only for ourselves, but for the generations to come.
Topo Lekku Yudik