Camel
Camelus dromedarius
The one-humped dromedary camel, an increasingly important dairy and pack animal in Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) as pastoralist communities diversify away from cattle amid recurring drought.
Species
Camelid
Family
Camelidae
Climate requirements
Exceptionally well adapted to hot, arid, low-rainfall environments; can go days without water and tolerates heat far better than cattle, making it a key climate-resilience livestock species.
Husbandry guide
Herded on extensive rangeland with access to browse (camels are primarily browsers, not grazers) and watered every few days rather than daily; calves are kept near camp for milking access. Manage trypanosomiasis (via tsetse control) and mange as the main health risks, and practice herd mobility to match seasonal forage/water availability.
Economic importance
An increasingly vital drought-resilience asset in northern Kenya, producing milk even through dry seasons when cattle fail, and providing a growing urban camel-milk market alongside its traditional pack/transport role.
Breeds
Gabbra
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Skins/Hides, Transport. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Rendille
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Skins/Hides, Transport. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Somali
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Skins/Hides, Transport. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.
Turkana
Primary uses: Draught Power, Meat, Milk, Skins/Hides, Transport. FAO DAD-IS conservation risk status (Kenya): Unknown.