Rapid Fire
Kharai Camel
- 02 Jul 2025
- 2 min read
Despite repeated interventions by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Gujarat’s Kachchh region continues to witness rampant mangrove destruction, threatening the existence of the rare, swimming Kharai camel.
- Kharai Camel: It is indigenous to the Kachchh region, the Kharai camel is known for its rare ability to swim long distances and graze on mangroves.
- The word ‘Kharai’ comes from ‘Khar’, meaning saline, pointing to the camel’s ability to live in coastal saline ecosystems. It thrives in brackish water and estuarine ecosystems, not in confined pastures.
- Kharai Camels have webbed feet for swimming and strong digestive systems to tolerate salty vegetation.
- The Kharai camel is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- Ecological and Cultural Significance: Integral to the Maldhari community, traditional camel herders who treat them as part of their pastoral heritage.
- Kharai Camel is recognised as a genetically distinct breed and listed as a threatened animal by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).
- Threats: Rapid expansion of salt pans, cement factories, and other industrial activities in Coastal Regulation Zone- I areas has led to massive loss of mangrove forests.
- Populations have declined significantly, with loss of habitat and access to food being the primary reasons.
| Read more: Tourism Working Group in Rann of Kutch |
