Role of Bactrian camels in conservation, tourism, and economic growth in Ladakh

Introduction

The United Nations declared 2024 as the International Year of Camelids. Camelids are key to the livelihoods of millions of households in hostile environments across over 90 countries, particularly indigenous peoples, and local communities. Camelids include alpacas, camels, dromedaries, guanacos, llamas, and vicuñas. Camelids contribute to food security, nutrition and economic growth and hold a strong cultural and social significance for communities worldwide. Camelids play an important role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals related to the fight against hunger, eradicating extreme poverty, empowering women, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. Camelids provide milk, meat, and fibre for communities to transport for products and people, as organic fertilizer. Camelids thrive where other livestock species cannot survive. Camelids play a key role in the culture, economy, food security and livelihoods of communities in Andean highlands and the arid and semi-arid lands in Africa and Asia, including indigenous peoples and pastoralists. Even in extreme climatic conditions, they continue to produce fibre and nutritious food. International Year of Camelids 2024 presents a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the role of camelids in building resilience to climate change in mountains and arid and semi-arid lands.

Bactrian camels in Ladakh

There are only two species of camels in the world – Dromedary Camels (single hump) and Bactrian camels (double humps). They are found in the cold desert areas of Nubra Valley in India, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan. Ladakh is the cold desert of India in the Himalayan range. The Bactrian camel is categorized into domesticated and wild. While the domesticated population is believed to be more than 1 million, those found in the wild are listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List with their population being reduced to less than 1500. The wild Bactrian camel is the only mammal on land that can survive on salty water. The name ‘Bactrian’ originates from the Hindu Kush Mountain range, rooted in the historical ancient site of Bactria on the banks of the river Amu Daria. This region of Central Asia is now divided into Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. 

Physical attributes of double-humped camels

Depending upon age, the average annual hair production per camel ranges from 2.5 to 4 kg. Hair quality attributes suggested very fine quality fibres. Hair is used for the preparation of various items viz. shawls, pullovers, sweaters, winter garments, coats, and caps. The high staple length and quality of wool fibre indicated its usefulness in fibre processing for the village cottage industry. Genetic polymorphism between two species of camel (Camelus dromedarius and Camelus bactrianus) has been found by the Polymerase Chain Reaction-Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA technique. A comparative study on the haematological and mineral profile of dromedary and Bactrian camel showed higher concentrations of haemoglobin, iron, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, and copper. 

Maintenance of Bactrian camels

Bactrian camels move at about 5 km/hr, producing 5 kg of hair/year, 600 litres of milk /year and 250 kg of dung/year (Shergojry et al., 2017). The humps are plump and pliable. During the late winter when pastures are scanty, the humps collapse. The skull bone is comparatively shorter and wider than the dromedary camel. The body of the Bactrian camel is short and stout. The body colour varies from light brown to dark brown. Long hairs grow on the top of the head, along the lower part of the neck, humps, and legs. The adult body weight varies – from 450 to 550 kg.  The males are heavier than the females. These camels oscillate between -40°C during winter and 40°C during summer. A shaggy winter coat protects these exotic animals during winter which falls out gradually when the temperature rises only to grow back when there is a drop in the temperature. Just like dromedary camels, they hardly sweat which helps them sustain several weeks without water. When thirsty they can drink up to 30 gallons of water in just 13 minutes that is 113 litres of water. A camel’s hump is used for storing fats which get converted into water and energy when enough food is not available. When there is enough food available, the double-humps of a Bactrian camel appear strong and erect. An empty sack cannot stand upright in Bactrian camels. When out of food for weeks, their humps become flabby and lean sidewards. 

Hardships of Bactrian camels

The diseases prevalent in Bactrian camels are actinobacillosis, pneumonia, eye diseases associated with corneal opacity, hydropericardium, UTIs and ectopic pregnancies. The timid Bactrian camels are attacked by wildlife predators. Commonly available feed/fodder plants utilized by the camels have been evaluated for various nutritional parameters. The highest crude protein content was found in the leaves of the Chhowk tree followed by Alfa-alfa, Changama and Beecho. However, crude fibre was higher in Alfa-alfa grass followed by Longtol. The Bactrian camels are seasonal breeders and the breeding season extends from January to March. Reproductive behaviour in the males during rutting indicated biting, active secretion from the poll glands and frothing. Bactrian camel can carry a load of up to one quintal as baggage and can work for 6-8 hours daily. Wild Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) are available during the April to August months of summer (Vyas et al., 2014). The lifespan is 50 years. Most of the Bactrian camels feed on Seabuckthorn, a prominent shrub found commonly in community grazing fields in the region. However, the shrub is only available during a few months of summer. They are omnivores but are primarily herbivores that constantly graze on grasses. The women collect alfalfa hay from the wild to feed the animals during the winter season. But as the number of animals has increased, one does not get sufficient hay for the animals. So, every winter the fodder for the camel becomes unaffordable. During winters, the camel spends a good amount to feeding them. The double-humped camel can propagate naturally, roaming and grazing in the rangeland all year round without any supplementary feed. They are the only land animals that can eat snow. Bactrian camels are naturally equipped to live in the harshest environment without the need for human caretakers.

Bactrian Camel Safari

Double-hump camels, found in Ladakh, are a major attraction for domestic as well as international tourists. While the one-hump camel is found in hot deserts, the double-hump camels are inhabitants of cold desert regions. For centuries, the double-hump Bactrian camels have been a significant mode of transportation in Ladakh. The best time to take the safari is from July to September. If tourist influx is good, a single camel can generate an income of about 1-2.5 lakhs INR during the summer season (Vyas and Bissa, 2019). 

Draught purposes

Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research (DIHAR) conducted performance tests on Bactrian camels and found them capable of bearing 200-250 kgs of load and travelling up to 50 km/day at an altitude of 12,000-15,550 feet above sea level (Lamo, 2023). The 14 Corps of the Indian Army is deploying these camels in the Depsang and Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) for carrying luggage and ration and mountain patrolling. The Air Force Station at Thoise in the Nubra Valley adopted a double-humped camel as a mascot in 1999. DRDO reared these camels at their facility in Leh. Central Asia Camel Safari,” a registered cooperative society, was formed in 2009. The neighbouring villages – Sumur (situated on the other side of Nubra valley near Siachin base), Tigger, and Diskit also formed their own Bactrian Camel Cooperatives and Unions.

Wool production

The tourist-riding camels of Nubra Valley make it through the severe winters in this way only to work again for their owners during the summers. The department is also working on the wool of Bactrian camels to create income for the breeders during the off-season of tourism. The breeders are encouraged to manufacture products from camel wool by forming self-help groups. Under skill development, the department is working on its two types of fur.

Possible milk production 

The optimum use of Bactrian camel milk could generate employment and good income. A litre of Bactrian camel milk could cost anything between Rs 2500/- and Rs 3000/- and has an international market already. The milk products could also become popular among tourists, especially the cheese made from it. The cheese produced from the camel has low levels of cholesterol and is easy to digest for the lactose intolerants. The price of the Bactrian camel cheese could fetch anything between Rs 25,000/- and Rs 45,000/- per kg. The lactation period of Bactrian camel is 14 to 16 months.

Policy interventions

With the intervention of the Animal Husbandry Department, it is now a treasure for breeders as it is one of the main tourist attractions for camel safari on the dunes of Nubra. The Conservation efforts by Animal Husbandry with the financial support of the Centre and Technical guidance of the National Research Centre on Camels, Bikaner have paved the way for growth in its population from mere 64 in 2004 to 298 in 2020. The Department is also running a farm for its research studies at Chushot in Leh. As per the latest census, there are 298 Bactrian camels in Leh district and India. To preserve it, some activities are being carried out. It is commercial now for camel riding at Sand Dune, Nubra. 8 to 10 camels are kept for research studies at the farm. 

Conclusion

The use of Bactrian camels in tourism is presented in the light of a method to conserve the endangered species, a means of sustenance for local families and a novel tourist attraction of Ladakh. Fodder processing units for the lean season are a dire need. The Bactrian camels of Ladakh have the real capability of changing the economics of Nubra Valley making the stakeholders prosperous. It is high time policy intervention should be done and a roadmap is prepared so that it can be beneficial to the local population as well as the army. The International Year of Camelids 2024 aims to build awareness of the untapped potential of camelids and to call for increased investment in the camelid sector, advocating for greater research, capacity development and the use of innovative practices and technologies.

References

1. FAO & NRCC websites

2. Ladakhi Bactrian Camel publication by Shelly Shaurya