Zoologists to assess rodent outbreak in Mizoram

Aizawl, Sep 26 (PTI) Teams of Zoologists from Pachhunga University College (PUC) in Aizawl will study and assess the current outbreak of rodents, sources in PUC said.

Led by Prof Lalramliana, two teams from the Zoology department of PUC set out on Thursday to visit the affected villages, while one team set out on Friday, the sources said.

The teams will examine and find out the species of the rodents and identify whether they are potential to spread scrub typhus, it said.

According to the findings of experts from PUC and researchers from other countries, rodents carry and spread several diseases and it was confirmed that scrub typhus is largely spread by rats or rodents in Mizoram.

Rodent attacks are currently reported in at least three Mizoram districts, affecting more than 800 jhum farmers.

State agriculture department deputy director (Plant Protection) Lalrindiki said that the rodent infestation is linked to the flowering of a particular bamboo species called bambusa tulda (rawthing), locally known as 'Thingtam' famine, which occurs every 46 years and is due in 2025.

The rodent infestation has been reported from 45 villages in Mamit district and two in Lunglei district and one in Saitual district, she said.

Lalrindiki said 800 jhum farmers, who mainly grow rice and soybeans, have been affected by the rodent attacks.

Out of 2,500 hectares of land under jhum cultivation, about 158 hectares have so far been infested, she said.

Mamit district, which borders Tripura and Bangladesh, is the worst affected, with 769 farmers from 45 villages facing the attacks.

She said that the agriculture department supplied rodenticides or plant protection chemicals to farmers free of cost, and teams from the department have been dispatched to the affected villages to guide farmers and village council leaders on how to use them.

Awareness on mass poisoning of rodents is being carried out, and the department is closely monitoring the situation, she said.

Thingtam', which recurs in a 48-year cycle, last happened in the state in 1977. Mizoram reported the last rodent attack in 2022, during which at least nine districts were affected.

Due to the flowering of Melocanna baccifera, Mizoram experienced a famine-like situation in 2007. However, no one died because of timely financial assistance from the Centre and massive preparation by the state government. PTI CORR RG