Kharai camel
The Kharai, is a rare and unique breed of dromedary camel, famously known as the 'swimming camel' due to its remarkable ability to thrive in the salt marshes of Kutch district, located in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Their name is derived from the Gujarati language word 'khara', meaning Salty. [1]
Also locally known as 'Dariyataru', these camels have earned their name due to their impressive ability to swim in the waters of the sea. With a slow and purposeful grace, they glide effortlessly through the water, traversing up to 3 kilometers in the shallow seas to reach their grazing grounds - the lush mangroves of the neighbouring region.[2][3][4]
The Kharai camels are closely associated with the Rabari and Fakirani Jat communities, two local and traditional tribes who have owned and managed these camels for generations. As nomadic pastoralists, these tribes have developed a symbiotic relationship with the Kharai camels, characterized by mutual dependence and understanding of the animals' needs and habits[5][6][7]
Breed recognition
[edit]The Kharai camel has been officially recognized as a distinct breed by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) located at Karnal, Haryana, due to its unique habitat and dietary preferences. This recognition elevates the Kharai camel to the status of India's ninth recognized camel breed.[8]
The 9 recognised camel breeds from India are[9]:
- Bikaneri, Rajasthan
- Jaisalmeri, Rajasthan
- Jalori, Rajasthan
- Kutchi, Gujarat
- Malvi, Madhya Pradesh
- Mewari, Rajasthan
- Mewati, Rajasthan and Haryana
- Kharai, Gujarat
Diet
[edit]Unlike other camel breeds, Kharai camels have a unique dependence on mangroves for sustenance. During the monsoon season, they migrate in large numbers to neighbouring mangrove islands, where they swim and forage for food. Remarkably, they remain on these islands for extended periods, often staying for several days at a time.[10][11]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Gujarat is home to approximately 4,000 Kharai camels, with a significant concentration of around 2,000 in the coastal regions of Kutch, specifically in Bhachau, Abdasa, and Lakhpat. The remaining population is distributed across Devbhoomi Dwarka and Jamnagar districts."
Conservation
[edit]Threats
[edit]"The Kharai camel, a distinct breed, is under threat due to the devastating impact of coastal industrialization and mangrove destruction. With their population in decline, conservation efforts are necessary to protect this vulnerable species.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "High and dry: will India's swimming camels be the last of their kind?".
- ^ "The rare Indian swimming camels under threat". BBC.com. Copyright 2024 BBC. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Gujarat: CAG finds 117 hectares of mangroves destroyed in Kutch; asks govt to save 'Kharai" breed of camels from extinction". The Indian Express. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ Bureau, The Hindu (14 April 2022). "Watch | The swimming camels of Kutch". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
{{cite news}}:|last1=has generic name (help) - ^ "Kutch's Kharai breed, the world's only swimming camels, battle the tide of an uncertain future". Firstpost. Firstpost. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Gujarat: Endangered kharai camels going hungry". The Times of India. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ Trivedi, Kankana (11 March 2020). "Swimming camels". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Kutch's 'Swimming Camels' recognized as separate breed". The Times of India. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Registered Breeds of Camel".
- ^ Rahman, Azera Parveen (14 January 2019). "India's swimming camels are endangered by destruction of mangroves in Kutch". Scroll.in. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ Kumar, Shrey. "Saving the swimming camels". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 24 August 2024.