Camels are struggling in sweltering temperatures as regions across Africa and the Middle East soar past 50C and take a massive toll on the famously hardy animals
The extreme heat is killing off famously hardy camels as deserts bake in rising temperatures.
Experts have been alarmed as temperatures surge beyond 50 degrees in Africa and the Middle East, with the vital animals known for their survivability in hot conditions now feeling the heat. Scientists have observed camels facing dehydration, fatigue and disease prevalence due to the extreme heat in the regions.
Farmers in northern Africa and the Horn of Africa rely on the animals to transport salt and other items across the desert. They switched over from cattle to camels due to their resilience to the heat and capability to survive drought conditions.
Camel herder Ali Umer, living in north-eastern Ethiopia, said he could see many of his 500 camels suffering in the heat. “They get blisters on their feet, their eyes become watery and the hot sand burns their skin and eats up their hair when they are sitting,” he told The BBC.
“They get blisters on their feet, their eyes become watery and the hot sand burns their skin and eats up their hair when they are sitting,” said the 40-year-old who owns around 500 camels. Within the past one month I have lost eight camel calves because of the extreme heat, it has become much more intense and difficult.”
Experts said camels are able to live relatively comfortably in conditions up to around 40C and are able to allow their bodies to regulate temperatures by a few degrees. Their coat allows them to stave off the worst of the sun and their ability to avoid sweating too much had played a vital part in their ability to survive in tough conditions.
UN Food and Agriculture scientist Dr Mohammed Bengoumi added: “But camels can also experience heat stress when temperatures rise beyond their comfort range. In many parts of the Sahara, summer temperatures now frequently exceed 50C, increasing the risk of severe heat stress, particularly when accompanied by reduced vegetation cover, water scarcity, and limited access to shade.”
Many camel herders in Ethiopia have moved or are moving the animals from the northern part of the country to the south where there is more water and vegetation. Bengoumi stressed the move was not temporary and that it could be a permanent shift for the herders due to drought and extreme heat.