THE LARGE CAMELIDS: FROM BIOLOGICAL MODEL TO DESERTIFICATION COMBAT

PRINCIPALES CONCLUSIONES DE LA CONFERENCIA

Dromedary and Bactrian camel share the arid lands of the Old world. Indeed, large camelids are inextricably linked to the desert ecosystem. Yet, beyond the role of the camel as “ship of desert”, the interest of camel as biological model is growing among the scientists. Some aspects as biological models were studied for long time like physiological adaptation to desert conditions, thirst or heat resistance. Other particularities are of growing importance like the ability to produce milk and meat in more intensified farming system. But overall, the main new paradigm for camel research is its involvement in biomedical field: camel immunoglobulins for human health, bio-activity of camel lactoferrin, specificity of vitamin C and vitamin D metabolism, particularities of mineral metabolism and of lipid storage and mobilization, proteomic analysis contributing to understand the true or supposed virtues of his milk, role in emerging diseases and health specificity. The belief that the camel is mainly an animal of the past is neither supported by the present changes in the camel demography at world level, nor by the growing interest of consumers and scientists for its production and its biological interest.

Moreover, the camel is a pivotal element in the desertification combat. The desertification combat is generally focused on water management, sustainable development of crops or soil degradation control. The camel, the most adapted domestic animal to desert conditions is yet an element contributing also to desertification combat. By its thirst resistance, its feeding behavior, its digestive physiology and anatomical particularities, it can use friendly the desert space. As multipurpose animal, it allows the desert milieu to provide milk, meat, wool and power in harsh conditions, contributing to consider the desert also as a producing milieu. Moreover, the camel products as milk and meat could be valorized on local or international market thanks to their adding values on nutritional and health point of view. The camel farming systems of the future have to integrate all these aspects for a sustainable development of the desert.

Working since 40 years in camel sciences (“camelology”) in connection with 45 “camel countries”, the author has achieved researches in all these fields, from the camel as biological model, as a pivotal element of the producing arid lands or as the main animal pole of the farming systems in arid lands, combining analytical and holistic approaches. The presentation is focused on the expected future of camel farming for sustainable development.