Why camels’ number declining in India

Subject : Environment

In the news:

The camel population in India has been in decline, especially in Rajasthan because of the Indira Gandhi Canal which hampered the movement of Raikas and Camels.

Camel population:

The number of camels has come down from 4 lakh during the livestock census of 2012 to 2.52 lakh in the 2019 livestock census, showing a decline of 37 per cent.
Around 84 per cent of camels in in India are located in Rajasthan and another 11 per cent in Gujarat.

Reasons behind the decline in the camel population:

Fewer dairy benefits:
- Long gestation period (15 months);
- limited saleable meat yield (less than 5 kg a day),
- high cost of maintenance,
- high cost of milk, and
- strong flavour of camel milk,
- all make it unsuitable for the domesticating camel for economic benefits.

Change in lifestyle:
- Replacement of the nomadic-pastoral way of life by agriculture.
- Individually owned farmlands that are often fenced restrict the movements of camels.
- Camels are rarely used for ploughing along with that shrinking of grazing grounds,
- shortage of fodder also a reason for reduced camel population.
Other means of transport:
- Camels are replaced largely by road networks.
- People prefer vehicle for transportation rather than using camel.
Fewer benefits for Raikas:
- Raikas do not sell dead camels for their bones and also do not eat camel meat.
- Raikas believe they were born of Lord Siva’s skin to protect camels.

Raikas:

The Raikas are a specialized caste of pastoralists from northwestern India, particularly the arid and semi-arid parts of Rajasthan.
Although they also raise goats, cattle, sheep, and water buffalo, the most important animal for Raika’s cultural identity is the camel.
The Raika and their camels talk to each other; this language/conversation is called akal-dhakaal.

Kharai camel:

It is a unique breed of camels 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).

Double humped camel:

The double-hump camel is a native of Gobi desert, and is found on a vast expanse of cold-desert areas across Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and parts of Afghanistan.

Rearing centre:

According to the Gujarat government, the camel rearing centre at Dhori, Kutchh, is working in a scientific manner for the purpose of increasing the number of camels through pure breeding.

Rajasthan government’s step to protect camels:

Rajasthan government has declared camel as State animal in 2014.
Rajasthan’s government enacted The Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act, 2015.
The Act aims to prohibit the slaughter of camels and also to regulate their temporary migration or export from Rajasthan.
But the Act does not show positive results.
Camels are now sold in the grey market, further driving down camel prices.
Camels that should normally command a price of Rs 40,000 plus, reportedly sell in this grey market for less than Rs 5,000.
The ban has benefitted only the meat traders and corrupt officials.