News: In a dramatic rescue, 33 camels – belonging to the rare and endangered Kharai breed – were saved from the high tide in the Arabian Sea near Vadinar Jetty in Gujarat’s Devbhumi Dwarka.
About Kharai camels
- They are a rare and unique breed of dromedary camel (with a single hump).
- They derive their name from the local term “Khara,” meaning saline, reflecting its adaptability to both desert and coastal ecosystems.
- They are also known as the “Swimming Camel,” it can traverse long distances across water.
- Habitat: They are endemic to the coastal regions of Kutch in Gujarat state.
- Features
- They can swim up to 3 km in the open deep seas and have webbed feet for swimming.
- Diet: Their diet includes various plants, shrubs and mangroves.
- They have a strong digestive system to tolerate salty vegetation.
- Ecological role: Their grazing is a pollinating process that helps to regenerate the mangrove forests.
- The camel’s milk is rich in nutrients and has potential therapeutic benefits.
- Conservation: They have been preserved by the Rabari and Fakirani Jat tribes (the camel pastoralist) for over 400 years.
- Threats:
- Expanding salt pans have eaten up large tracts of dense and thriving mangroves
- Industrial activities
- Climate change
- IUCN Status: Endangered
