The current nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic has affected mithun farming in Mizoram’s Sailulak village in Serchhip along the state’s border with Myanmar. More than 10 mithuns have been killed by a pack of wolves, sources said on Saturday.

Sailulak village council president Malsawmdawnga told this correspondent that an unspecified number of wolves attacked a herd of mithuns, which were left unattended because of the lockdown, killing more than 10 of the domestic bovines. Most of the mithuns were completely eaten up by the wolves, he added.

Malsawmdawnga said more than 200 mithuns are being reared at several farms located about 7-8km from the village.

He said Sailulak houses more than 260 families and about 50 of them are engaged in mithun farming for a living.

He said the farmers were devastated as they feared they would not be in a position to repay their loans on time.

“Mithun farming is a practice in the village through the gram sabha with the help of bank loans. The killing of the animals by wolves have left the farmers in complete confusion as they are unlikely to repay their bank loans,” Malsawmdawnga said.

He said home minister Lalchamliana, who was elected from Hrangturzo Assembly constituency under which Sailulak village falls, has extended financial help to the farmers.

An official of the forest department said the state government had come to know about the hardship of the farmers and all possible efforts would be made to address their problem once normalcy returns.

The official said the state government had compensated mithun farmers in Sailulak village in the past when their cattle were killed by wolves.

Mithuns are found in the Northeast, Bangladesh, Myanmar and in Yunnan province of China.