2.5 US Cents for every Rat tail

To control the problem of rats who can wipeout crops in the fields, government in Mizoram state of India is offering Indian Rupee one ( 2 1/2 U.S. cents) reward for every rodent tail that is given to its officials.

This is separate from a $25 reward for a Chawmnu, dead or alive. The Chawmnus are giant rats, each believed to be the size of a female pig which, according to unconfirmed local rumors, already are stalking some villages.

As to the other rats, their expected onslaught threatens nearly 500,000 farmers with famine in the tiny eastern state bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar. In an earlier invasion in 1958-59, the rats caused havoc on crops, rice paddies and village granaries.

The government reward campaign already has recorded more than 400,000 rat kills, evidenced by the tail pile.

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