Without the dromedary, man would not have been able to occupy such hostile spaces as the nomads did.

High camel densities are found in Sahelian, semi-desert, and desert areas. Camel caravans are still characteristic of the Sahara today.

The Tuareg people are nicknamed the « lords of the desert » or the « blue men, » because the indigo-dyed cloth they sometimes use to protect themselves from the sand and sun rubs off on their skin.

They call themselves the « Kel Tamasheq, » « the people of the Tamasheq language, » the « Kel Tagelmust, » « those who wear the veil, » or « Imajeghen, » the free people. In 2020, they numbered only 1.5 million, spread across the deserts of Mali, Niger, Algeria, Libya, and Burkina Faso. They trade with the sedentary populations and organize a caravan twice a year, the azalaï, which crosses the Sahara in about three weeks, to conduct commercial exchanges.

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!