Images by some of the world's leading photographers portray the camel pastoralist culture of Rajasthan.

The camel is part of the landscape of Rajasthan; the icon of the desert state, part of its cultural identity, and an economically important animal for desert communities. But camel numbers are plummeting.

To save India’s dwindling camel population, the government of Rajasthan declared the camel an official State Animal in 2014, and in 2015 passed legislation, the Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration) Bill, to protect it. But this did not provide solutions to the key issues behind the crisis.

On 2 October 2016, the Rajasthan state government announced Ushtra Vikas Yojana, an innovative new Camel Development Scheme. But the measures announced still need to be flanked by further interventions and investments to make camel breeding economically viable again.

The Gujarat government, with dairy producer Amul, has been supporting the development of camel milk dairy since 2011, and has just started marketing it in selected locations in Gujarat. But although Rajasthan has many more camels, a surviving and superbly-adapted herding system, and high quality camel milk, the state is lagging behind in dairy investment; development of microdairies and specialist products may be the only way forward if Rajasthan's camels are to survive. 

Support a new vision for the camels of Rajasthan. 

Keeping camel milk natural

On 2 December 2016, the government made the long-awaited announcement of FSSAI standards for camel milk, an issue which has held back camel dairy development in India for years. But camel milk could not meet the proposed standard!

The FSSAI said camel milk must have a minimum fat content of 3%. Yet the fat content of milk from the same camel can vary between 1.9% and 4%, depending on season and diet. And consumers increasingly prefer lower-fat milk.

Camel breeders want to supply a natural product that consumers can trust. Feeding supplements or using additives in milk to meet arbitrary standards for fat content would not be the best way forward. Representations were made to request that the new standard be amended and we asked all to help raise awareness of the issue.

We'd like to say thank you to everyone who made representations to the FSSAI and state government. In June 2017 the FSSAI responded by amending the minimum fat content to 2% so that camel milk can stay natural. A great result for both camels and consumers!

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Saving the camels of Rajasthan

Ushtra Vikas Yojana, the Camel Development Scheme, was announced by the state government on 2 October 2016. 31.5 crore rupees has been allocated for the scheme over four years.

The new plan outlined by Kunji Lal Meena, Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Government of Rajasthan will support camel breeders with a subsidy of INR 10,000 (payable over a period of eighteen months) for each camel calf born, along with other measures which include training centres,  improved access to veterinary treatment and research on camel products.

The camel pastoralists of Rajasthan believe that Shiva created them to be the guardians of the camel. They are the custodians of a long and proud heritage which goes back at least 600 years.

Ushtra Vikas Yogana signals a new approach. To save Rajasthan’s state animal, we need to involve and work with camel keeping communities to combine the best of tradition with technological and institutional innovations.

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Ranakpur Camel Lodge

LPPS and Camel Charisma are now welcoming guests at our new community eco-tourism venture, the Ranakpur Camel Lodge, offering homestay accommodation with a difference at the LPPS Camel Conservation Centre, near Rajasthan's famous Ranakpur Jain temples.

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