The Camel: Ship of the desert

The Camel: Ship of the desert

Charlotte Coretta Rodricks¹, Kanta Godara²*, Rohit Solanki³

^1,2Assistant Professor, Shekhawati Veterinary College, Sikar

Assistant Professor, Tantia University, Sri Ganganagar

*Corresponding Author mail: kanteykg@gmail.com

Abstract

The camel is a unique well adapted animal capable of bearing heavy loads upto 170 kg hereby earning it the moniker ‘Beasts of burden’. Different breeds of camels are distributed across the world with the FAO estimating the current camel population to be over 35 million. They are reared for milk, meat and leather and are additionally used for transportation, sport and tourism. The camel is able to tolerate high extremities, making it a suitable domestic animal for livestock owners living in the desert. This is due to its various physiological adaptations such as possession of a hump, thick skin, and thick foot pads, all of which make it a well-adapted animal to arid regions. Mostly reared by tribal communities in different parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. At present NBAGR has recognized nine breeds of camels in India. Out of the total camel population in the country, about 84% is found in Rajasthan. However, while world statistics indicate the increase in camel population, statistics in India reported a decreasing trend. The decline in population can be attributed to different reasons such as loss of grazing land, mechanization of agriculture activities and the slaughter ban imposed in 2015.

Introduction

Pseudoruminant mammals that first evolved in North America, the camels evolved into a number of species of the camel family Camelidae (camelids). The Camelidae belong to the order Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates), and the suborder Tylopoda (pad-footed animals). They are classed in two genera, Camelus and Lama. The genus Camelus comprises two species: Camelus dromedarius (also known as the one-hump camel or Arabian camel) and Camelus bactrianus (also known as the two-hump camel or Bactrian camel). The Lama genus comprises four species: Lama glama (llama), Lama pacos (alpaca), Lama guanicoe (guanaco) and Lama vicugna (vicuna).

The dromedary was first domesticated in Southern Arabia around 4000 to 3000 BC mainly for its milk. Camels form an important part of the domestic livestock population in most of the dry areas of the world. The camel is considered as an animal of the desert (hot or cold). It is found in areas where there is low sporadic rainfall. Evolution of the camel has helped it develop better tolerance to climatic conditions prevailing in deserts compared to other livestock.

Unique adaptations of camels

Camels have several adaptive features which helps them thrive in arid regions. The camel has a hump which comprises of fatty tissue reserves, thick skin which prevents loss of water, hard lips which permits them to consume even thorny bushes without injury and a long neck enabling them to feed off leaves from tall trees. Additionally, their thick foot pads permit them to walk easily on the loose desert sand and their long eyelashes prevents sand from entering their eyes. They also have the ability to close their nostrils during a sandstorm.

Many of their features are slightly modified in each breed to suit the local climatic conditions and terrain. Also known as mountain type or hill type, the Mewari camel has strong hindquarters, heavy legs and hard, thick foot pads. Their body hairs are coarse, and protect the animals from the bites and stings of wild bees and insects. The head is heavy, set on a thick neck (Rathore, 1986). Predominantly light brown in colour, Jaisalmeri camels are tall and have a lean appearance. They have a small head and mouth with a narrow muzzle. The head is well carried on a thin neck and the eyes are prominent. They are capable of reaching speeds of up to 25km per hour.

Nomadic camel settlement

Present population statistics of Camels

The overall camel population in the world stands at 29 million out of which 95 percent are dromedarian or one humped and the rest are Bactrian or two humped (Sikkema et al. 2019). The country Chad in Africa had over 10 million camels as reported in 2022. Until the mid 1990s the camel population was reported to be 10 lakhs only in Rajasthan state itself. As reported by the 20^th Livestock census in 2019, the camel population in India stood at 2.52 lakhs against 4.00 lakhs in the previous census, indicating the overall camel population has declined by 37.05 percent. About 84 percent of the camel population resides in Rajasthan while Gujarat accounts for 11 percent. The remaining 5 percent is distributed across Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Registered breeds of camel by NBAGR

Utility

Camels have been used for transporting goods as well as settlements. The males and females are both used for draught purposes. Males are also used for meat purposes while the females are reared for milch purpose. During tourism season, camels are often employed to give joy rides to tourists. Camel races are a popular past time amongst the tribes and communities rearing them and this also attracts the attention of tourists visiting nearby localities (Mehta et al., 2004). Camel hair is used in the manufacture of shawls, ropes, carpets, blankets and other items for daily use. They are also employed by the border security forces and the Rajasthan Armed forces to patrol the desert border and also to carry emergency supplies (Behl et al., 2010).

Decorated Camel at the Pushkar Mela

Reasons for decline in the camel population in India

1. Progressive mechanization of agriculture sector has reduced utility of camel in agriculture sector.
2. Most of the interior areas are connected with pakka roads and dependency on camels for transportation from one area to another are reducing gradually. People prefer vehicle for transportation rather than using camel.

• Grazing lands have declined due to establishment of Indira Gandhi Nahar Sinchai Project in Barmer, Bikaner, Churu, Hanumangarh, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Sriganganagar districts of Rajasthan. These grazing lands were the main fodder source for camel.

1. It has become difficult for camel rearers to provide fodder to camels due to restrictions in forests areas.
2. Rajasthan Government has announced Camel as their State animal and implemented ‘Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Bill, 2015’. Under Rajasthan Camel Act 2015 there is ban on evacuation or temporary migration out of the state and slaughter of camel. Due to implementation of this bill, inter State trading of camel is prohibited.
3. The younger generation of camel rearers are moving away themself from the camel husbandry practices due to their higher educational status and little scope in camel rearing.  Due to the construction of proper roads along the border, the BSF has cut down on the number of camels needed for transportation leading to a loss for breeders.

 Future of camel conservation

To address the declining population of camels, including both dromedary and Bactrian species, it is imperative to preserve the diverse camel genetic resources through in vivo and in vitro conservation strategies. Establishing elite herds of various camel breeds within their native regions is crucial to ensure the distribution of genetically superior sires for local breed improvement programs and the conservation of purebred lines. Special emphasis must be placed on the conservation of the double-humped (Bactrian) camel, as its population has dwindled to only a few hundred individuals in the country. Collaborative efforts involving State Animal Husbandry Departments, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), NGOs, and breed associations will be essential for implementing elite germplasm preservation initiatives. Additionally, leveraging the unique traits of camels requires comprehensive efforts, including breed and strain evaluation, molecular genetic studies such as marker-assisted selection and gene stacking, and the identification and cloning of genes associated with disease resistance and enhanced milk production using microsatellite techniques. Developing and updating genetic databases and identifying restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers for economically significant traits in camels will further support conservation and genetic improvement efforts. These measures are critical for securing the genetic diversity and sustainability of camel populations in the future.

Conclusion

Camels, uniquely adapted to arid environments, play a vital role in human livelihoods, particularly in desert regions, providing transportation, milk, meat, and fibers, and supporting agriculture and tourism. However, their population in India is declining due to mechanization, shrinking grazing lands, legislative restrictions, and reduced interest from younger generations in camel rearing. To address this decline, a comprehensive conservation strategy is needed. Key measures include in vivo and in vitro conservation of camel genetic resources, establishing elite herds of various breeds, and conducting advanced genetic research to enhance traits like disease resistance and milk production. Collaborative efforts involving government agencies, research institutions, NGOs, and local communities are crucial for preserving camel breeds and promoting their relevance in modern contexts. By focusing on genetic diversity, community support, and sustainable practices, the future of camel populations can be secured. These efforts will ensure that camels continue to thrive as a vital component of desert ecosystems and contribute to the socio-economic stability of camel-rearing communities.

References

Behl, J.D., Behl, R., Sadana, D.K., Vijh, R.K., Gupta, N., Gupta, S.C. and Joshi, B.K. 2010.Fenetic resources of India: Jaisalmeri camel, the Indian safari joyride camel. National Bureau of Animal genetic Resources.

Mehta S.C. 2004. Characteristics and conservation of Jaisalmeri camel. Published under NATP(MM) by M.S. Sahani, Director, National Research centre on Camel. Bikaner. 334001. Rajasthan.

Rathore, G.S. 1986. Camels and their management. New Delhi: Indian council of agricultural research.

Sikkema RS, Farag EABA, Islam M, Atta M, Reusken CBEM, Al-Hajri MM, Koopmans MPG. Global status of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in dromedary camels: a systematic review. Epidemiol Infect. 2019 Jan;147: e84. doi: 10.1017/S095026881800345X.

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