Camels in a Changing Climate

Climate change is transforming the ecological and socioeconomic systems that support camel-based livelihoods. This chapter analyses the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on camels (Camelus dromedarius and Camelus bactrianus) and their habitats across Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Direct impacts include rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, recurrent droughts, range degradation, and the emergence of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases. These biophysical stressors undermine the camels’ inherent resilience and adaptability, negatively affecting their health, productivity, and mobility. Indirect impacts arise from socioeconomic transformations, including species substitution from cattle to camels, changes in pastoral mobility, peri-urbanization, and the commercialization of camel products. Gender roles are also evolving, with women taking on more roles in marketing camel products such as milk and meat, while youth serve as intermediaries who link markets. Global, regional, and national policy frameworks are gradually recognizing the strategic importance of camels for economic growth; however, significant gaps remain in research, value chain integration, and transboundary resource governance. The chapter highlights a growing array of adaptation and resilience strategies that blend indigenous knowledge with modern science, including selective breeding, rangeland restoration, digital advisory platforms, and gender-inclusive cooperatives. These initiatives position camels as both vulnerable sentinels and vital actors in climate-impacted ecosystems. Securing the future of dryland livelihoods demands a paradigm shift that integrates camel systems into climate, food security, and biodiversity policies, underpinned by strengthened evidence-based research and participatory rangeland governance.