‘Rescuing’ camels not a solution; Rajasthan needs sanctuaries for its state animal
- June 20, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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‘Rescuing’ camels not a solution; Rajasthan needs sanctuaries for its state animal
Subject: Environment
Section: Species in news
Context:
- Rajasthan’s camels are regularly being rescued from slaughter, but this only increases their suffering, as it involves no long-term solution.
Details:
- Camels need protected grazing areas where they can feed on native vegetation. Such camel sanctuaries would serve as biodiversity hotspots and conserve other native drought-adapted animal and plant species as well.
- These would be areas where native trees that camels thrive on grow – such as khejri (Prosopis cineraria), bordi (Zizyphus nummularia), babool (Acacia nilotica) and other drought-adapted species.
- The International Year of Camelids in 2024 provides a window of opportunity for rekindling Rajasthan’s camel heritage by setting up a network of camel sanctuaries that could turn into a major tourist attraction and secure rural livelihoods.
Kharai camel:
- It is a unique breed of camel found only in Kachchh, Gujrat.
- They have the special ability to survive on both, dry land and in the sea.
- They swim in seawater and feed on saline plants and mangroves.
- The Kharai was recognised as a separate breed in 2015 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Raika community of Rajasthan:
- They are Rajasthan’s hereditary camel herders who have bred and managed these animals for generations and who have a treasure trove of knowledge for keeping them hale and healthy.
- This community traditionally felt responsible for the welfare of the camel, believing their primaeval ancestor was created by God Shiva for just that purpose.
- The Raika and their camels talk to each other; this language/conversation is called akal-dhakaal.
Issues:
- As per the livestock census 2012, the camel population had shrunk from over a million in the 1980s to around 300,000.
- The Raikas are no longer able to make a living from camel herding with the availability of motorised vehicles.
- Their ancestral grazing areas disappeared due to development, irrigation agriculture and forest conservation areas.
Steps taken:
- Rajasthan declared the camel as its state animal in 2014 and enacted the Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act, 2015.
- The act prohibited not only slaughter but also prevented the movement of camels across state borders.
- The act further deteriorated the camel population. Between 2012 and 2019, India’s camel numbers declined by an additional 37.1% to 2.5 lakh.
- 2024 has been designated as the International Year of Camelids by the United Nations General Assembly catapulting this species into the limelight of international development.