Key facts
- Camels in Africa are suffering from extreme heat, exhibiting symptoms like blisters, watery eyes, and skin burns.
- Camel calf mortality has increased due to rising temperatures, with one herder losing eight calves in a month.
- Studies show that climate change and extreme heat are negatively impacting camel health, productivity, and reproduction.
- Drought-related camel mortality is a significant crisis in Somalia, affecting nearly half of camel-owning households.
- Veterinarians are treating more sick camels and observing a rise in camel deaths attributed to heat stress.
- Herders are relocating camels from historically northern regions to the south in Ethiopia due to unsustainable conditions.
Camels, traditionally resilient to harsh conditions, are now suffering from the extreme heat across Africa, particularly in the Horn and North Africa. Herders report that rising temperatures are causing physical ailments such as blisters on feet, watery eyes, and skin burns, leading to increased mortality, especially among young camels. This heat stress also impacts camel productivity, reducing milk yields and causing reproductive issues. Scientists and veterinarians confirm that extreme heat events, exacerbated by climate change, are leading to dehydration, disease prevalence, and significant stress on camel populations. In regions like the Afar region of Ethiopia and parts of Somalia, the situation has become so severe that herders are losing a substantial number of animals and some are being forced to relocate their herds to find more sustainable grazing and water sources. The World Meteorological Organization notes a clear upward trend in extreme heatwaves in North Africa since 1981, with temperatures frequently exceeding 50C in some areas, pushing camels beyond their physiological limits. While camels can tolerate temperatures up to around 40C by regulating their body temperature, prolonged exposure to higher temperatures damages their cells and immune systems. The impacts are compounded by other factors such as loss of vegetation, water scarcity, and inadequate veterinary services, creating a crisis for pastoralist communities who rely heavily on camels.