‘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.