The domestication of these animals

The dromedary was domesticated in Saudi Arabia, in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula, around 3000 BC. It only appeared in the Sahara at the beginning of the Christian era, and it was already domesticated.

The Bactrian camel, for its part, is believed to have been domesticated 5000 to 6000 years ago in present-day Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

They were already used by the Romans in the 1st century for their strength and docility.

Today, the home of the dromedary is undoubtedly Somalia. With an estimated population of 6 million, almost as many as the population, the Somali camel population represents 30% of the world’s livestock. It is an essential component of the country’s economy.

In terms of population size, Sudan (3 million head) follows, followed by Ethiopia, Mauritania, and India (approximately 1 million).

Climate change and increasing desertification are bringing dromedaries and Bactrian camels back into the spotlight and becoming a central concern for both breeders and scientists.

Is the Margeride Plateau suitable for dromedaries?

Dromedaries are perfectly suited to the climate of the Haute Lozère, with its wide open spaces and sometimes extreme temperatures.
Their resilience, ability to travel long distances with little water, and overall versatility make them ideal partners for our project.

The installation of our herd was carried out in close collaboration with specialized veterinarians to ensure their proper adaptation to our farm.

The Big Camelid Family

Originally from North America around 40 million years ago, camelids later migrated in two directions:
To South America via the Isthmus of Panama, where the small camelids originated, and to Asia via the Bering Strait, where the large camelids were born. Fossils of ancestors of Camelus have been discovered in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the High Arctic, dating back 6.5 to 7.5 million years!