In a reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said the number of camels has come down from 4 lakh during the livestock census of 2012 to 2.52 lakh in the 2019 census, showing a decline of 37 per cent.
- Around 84 per cent of camels in in India are in Rajasthan and another 11 per cent in Gujarat.
Reasons for decline in population
- Decline in the grazing land is one of the reasons for the drop in the number of camels. The grazing lands have declined due to establishment of Indira Gandhi Nahar Sinchaii project.
- These grazing lands were the main fodder source for camel.
- It has become difficult for camel rearers to provide fodder to camels due to restrictions in forest areas.
- The use of camel in agriculture and transport sectors have also come down in Rajasthan. Progressive farm mechanisation has reduced utility of camel in agriculture sector.
Steps to increase population
- The National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner, and Lokhit Pashupalak Sansthaan, Saaddi, Paali are try-ing to make camel milk famous among public through preparation of processed milk products such as ice cream, flavoured milk, etc.
- Rajasthan government has started camel conservation scheme of Rajasthan to promote the production of camel calf. Under this scheme, Rs. 10,000 will be given to camel rearers in two instalments.
- To prohibit camel slaughter and also to regulate temporary migration or export thereof from Rajasthan, the State has enacted and enforced ‘The Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter And Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act, 2015’.
- 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.
About camels
- There are two species of camel: the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) and the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius).
- About 90% of the world’s camels are dromedary camels, also known as the Arabian camel. All existing dromedary camels are domesticated.
- Dromedary camels have one hump, and Bactrian camels have two humps.
- Camels’ humps consist of stored fat, which they can metabolize when food and water is scarce.
- In India—all of them are descendants of wild dromedary, or Arabian, camels.
