Draft Policy Paper on Camels ( UPSC Prelims)

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News Context

A draft policy document concerning camels, developed by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has suggested the establishment of a National Camel Sustainability Initiative (NCSI).

Key Highlights of Draft Policy Paper

India has experienced a significant decline in its camel population, which has decreased by over 75% since the 1970s. The main factors contributing to this decline include a reduction in their traditional economic utility, the loss of grazing lands, various forms of environmental stress such as desertification and invasive species, and the presence of underdeveloped markets.

About Camels

Habitat: Camels thrive in dryland ecosystems, often called the "Ship of the Desert," and are predominantly raised (90%) in the regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
  ● Camel-rearing Pastoralist communities: These include the Raika, Rabari, Fakirani Jat, and Manganiyar groups.  
 Characteristics: Camels can endure several days without water, cover extensive distances, and consume thorny desert vegetation.
      ○ The humps of camels store fats, which provide energy during food scarcity, while they store water in their blood cells, not in their humps.
 Role of Camels: Due to their minimal water requirements, selective grazing, and soft-padded hooves, camels contribute to maintaining vegetative diversity and preventing desertification. Additionally, camel dung enhances soil fertility in arid areas.

Single-humped Dromedary Camels

 ● Bikaneri (Rajasthan): Valued for its strength and endurance, this breed is utilized for cart pulling and heavy draught work.  
  ● Jaisalmeri (Rajasthan): Recognized for its stamina and speed, this tall and slender breed is employed for camel safaris, particularly in the Thar Desert.  
  ● Mewari (Rajasthan): Noted for its milk yield.  
  ● Kachchhi (Gujarat): A strong draught breed used for ploughing and carting in the Rann of Kachchh.  
  ● Kharai (Gujarat, primarily in Kutch): Capable of swimming up to 3 kms in seawater; adapted to coastal and mangrove ecosystems; survives by grazing on mangroves; can be domesticated; its milk is rich in nutrients and offers potential therapeutic benefits; preserved by Rabari and Fakirani Jat tribes.  

Double Humped Bactrian Camel

Habitat of Domestic Bactrian camels: These camels are found from Eastern Europe to East Asia, with significant populations in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China. In India, they are exclusively located in the high altitude cold desert of Ladakh.
 Characteristics:
  ● Adaptations: They have two humps that serve as an energy reservoir (storing fat, not water). Their thick coat acts as a thermal shield, and their broad feet are adapted for walking on sand. They possess long eyelashes and sealable nostrils to protect against dust. They can consume thorny, dry, and sparse plants like the seabuckthorn shrub and can eat snow to partially satisfy their water needs. They are indicators of arid biomes and serve as a flagship species for the conservation of the Central Asian steppe.  
      ○ They played a key role in the Silk Road trade and cultural exchange.
      ○ They are capable of carrying loads up to 250 kg.
      ○ Note: The Wild Bactrian Camel (Camelus ferus—a distinct species) is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and is found in four isolated desert–Gobi habitats.