Gabra Camel

Camelus dromedarius

An ecotype herded by the Gabra pastoralist community across the Chalbi Desert and surrounding rangelands of Marsabit County, similar in size and build to the neighboring Rendille camel and managed under comparable extensive husbandry systems.

Species: Camelid
Family: Camelidae
Climate requirements: Adapted to one of Kenya's most extreme arid environments, the Chalbi Desert, where it withstands prolonged droughts and scarce, erratic rainfall far better than cattle or small stock.

Husbandry

Care & Economics

Husbandry guide: Milk yield typically runs 1-3 litres per day over a 12-18 month lactation, with live weights in the 300-550 kg range. Herds are watered infrequently, often every few days, relying heavily on browse from Acacia and Commiphora shrubs to meet water needs between waterings. Herders split herds into separate grazing groups, keeping lactating and young animals nearer home wells while dry and breeding stock range across wider seasonal grazing orbits. Close monitoring for trypanosomiasis and mange, along with communal well rotation, are core parts of daily management.
Economic importance: Camels form the backbone of Gabra livelihoods, providing milk, transport and a drought-resilient wealth reserve when cattle losses mount, and are increasingly linked into commercial camel milk trade routes feeding Marsabit and Isiolo markets.

Genetics

Breeds

No breeds recorded yet.

Animal health

Diseases

No diseases recorded yet.

Nutrition

Feeds

No feeds recorded yet.

Veterinary

Drugs & Medication

No drugs recorded yet.

Value chain

Products from this Animal

No derived products recorded yet.

Trade

Marketplace

Not currently listed on the Marketplace. List it →