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THE Pushkar Fair, the annual camel and livestock fair, held in Pushkar in Rajasthan saw a marked decline in the number of tourists this year. Whereas 1,35,000 foreign tourists arrived in Pushkar last year, this year the number touched just 20,000 till the last day of the fair. Besides the dry lake, caused due to an attempt by the authorities to make the lake bigger and deeper, a major reason has been the dwindling number of camels arriving at the fair. A drastic change in the data provided by the mela magistrate and authorities of the Animal Husbandry Department indicates a grim picture.
Raika, Rajasthan’s main camel breeding community, traditionally never sold female camels. Since camel breeding is no longer considered profitable, the deeply ingrained social restrictions on selling female camels have broken down. For the past many years, Bangladeshi traders had been buying thousands of female camels through their Indian contacts, who would take them to Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and even Bangladesh, for slaughter. The animal was reportedly slaughtered for camel meat, believed to be exported to Arab countries. According to sources, the state government had turned down a proposal for exporting camels to Bangladesh on learning that they were meant to be slaughtered. There have been instances when Indian and Bangladeshi paramilitary forces exchanged fire because camels were being smuggled into Bangladesh. According to the livestock census conducted in 2003, Rajasthan’s camel population dropped to 4,98,000, a 24 per cent drop since 1997 and more than 50 per cent since 1987, when it was estimated that the number of camels was more than 10,00,000. There are a lot many reasons for the decline beside the illegal export. Shrinking grazing resources because of rapid development and closure of the jungles by the Forest Department has also been a catalyst in the dwindling number of camel population. The drought, too, caused a massive increase in the cost of fodder this year. Camel fodder which was Rs 7-10 per kg in 2008 at the Pushkar fair touched as high as Rs 11-14 per kg this year.`A0Also the non-availability of medical care and the lack of trained veterinarians are among the reasons for the falling population of camels at the fair. This is partly due to shortage and partly due to camel herders migratory mode of life. The only solution to the problem lies in starting mobile veterinary clinics at key locations or on the route of the migratory tribes. Marketing of camel products is the only way to the promote breeding of camels and restore lost interest of the Raikas in this trade. There is a need to give recognition to camel milk under the Dairy Act of Rajasthan Dairy Federation. Although camel milk is good for human health and is extensively used in various parts of the world, there is lack of awareness and government response in India. Last year, a shop selling ice cream made from camel milk attracted an immense response at the fair but surprisingly this time, it was missing from the scene. Camel wool is too rough and requires further treatment such as blending with other fibres, but once processed, it gives a good alternative.`A0There is also a need to have a comprehensive insurance programme for camels.
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Whereas
in 2007 the total number of camels that arrived in Pushkar was 11,966,
this number reduced to 8,689 in 2009, a decline of 27 per cent. The
falling number of camels is a matter of concern as many breeds of
fantastic animal are on the verge of extinction.