Africa's camels are dying from extreme heat as temperatures soar
Camels in the Horn of Africa and North Africa are suffering from the effects of extreme heat, leading to increased mortality rates and health issues. Herders report that rising temperatures are causing physical distress to the animals, threatening a vital source of livelihood in the region.
Why it matters
The decline of camel health due to climate change underscores the vulnerability of traditional livestock-based economies to extreme weather patterns.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Navin Singh Khadka Environment correspondent Reuters Livestock herders in the Horn of Africa and North Africa have switched to camels over the years because of their famed resilience Camels are famously known as the ships of the desert, but even these hardy animals are not being spared from the extremes of rising temperatures in Africa.
The Afar region of north-eastern Ethiopia is one of the hottest and driest places on Earth, where nomads often lead camel caravans carrying salt through the desert.
"I can see my camels suffering from extreme heat," Ali Umer, a camel herder from Semera in Afar, 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.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in