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NGT summons Guj officials over Kharai camel issue
NGT summons Guj officials over Kharai camel issue

Time of India

time13-07-2025

  • General
  • Time of India

NGT summons Guj officials over Kharai camel issue

Ahmedabad: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently issued fresh notices to Gujarat authorities in response to a non-compliance petition filed by the Kutch Camel Breeders Association (KCBA). The NGT case centres on the protection of the endangered Kharai camels, known for their unique ability to swim and graze in coastal mangroves, and the preservation of their traditional breeding practices. The KCBA has filed an execution application seeking enforcement of earlier NGT orders dated Sep 11, 2019, and Sep 16, 2021. These directives had called for measures to safeguard the camels' fragile habitat in Kutch and support the livelihoods of their breeders, who have faced increasing threats due to environmental degradation and lack of official support. During the recent hearing, the NGT bench led by chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava noted the absence of key respondents, including the officials of the forest and environment department, the district collector of Kutch, despite being served notices. In its latest order of July 9 the NGT states, "Let fresh notices be issued to all respondents. The additional chief secretary, forest and environment department, will either appear virtually or through an advocate on the next date of hearing to assist the tribunal. The GPCB has filed a short reply affidavit. Learned counsel appearing for the GPCB submits that he will examine the issue again and ensure filing of fresh detailed affidavit before the next date of hearing." You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), which was present, has been directed to re-examine the environmental concerns and submit a detailed affidavit. The next hearing is scheduled for Sep 19.

33 rare Kharai camels caught in sea tide rescued off Gujarat coast
33 rare Kharai camels caught in sea tide rescued off Gujarat coast

Time of India

time08-07-2025

  • General
  • Time of India

33 rare Kharai camels caught in sea tide rescued off Gujarat coast

RAJKOT: A herd of 33 rare Kharai camels from Singach village was grazing on mangroves on Kalubhar Tapu, an island in Arabian Sea off Gujarat's Jamnagar Tuesday. They wandered too close to the shoreline. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Then the tide rose and they were caught in turbulent waters . The breed - unique for its ability to swim and thrive in the marshlands of Kutch - is among the few camels globally adapted to coastal ecosystems. The herd struggled to stay afloat, with the tide rising fast. They swam 3km through rough sea, but got trapped near the rocky coast off Vadinar Jetty. Video clips showed the muscular beasts - each weighing up to 500kg - thrashing in monsoon-swollen surf as waves surged across the Kutch coastline. Vadinar marine police and villagers launched a swift rescue. Wading through surf, they surrounded the herd and steered the exhausted animals back to solid ground. "The camels were spotted drifting in rough waters near the jetty. We rushed with herders and waited for the tide to recede before guiding them to the shore," Vadinar marine police station inspector VR Shukla said. "Used to freshwater and marshlands, the seawater posed a serious risk to the camels." No animal was harmed. All 33 were safely returned to their owners from Singach.

Iconic swimming camels face extinction threat as illegal salt pans ravage mangrove forests in Gujarat's Kutch
Iconic swimming camels face extinction threat as illegal salt pans ravage mangrove forests in Gujarat's Kutch

New Indian Express

time03-07-2025

  • General
  • New Indian Express

Iconic swimming camels face extinction threat as illegal salt pans ravage mangrove forests in Gujarat's Kutch

AHMEDABAD: The Kharai camel—a rare, sea-swimming marvel of Gujarat's Kutch's coast is fighting for survival as rampant deforestation of mangrove forests for illegal salt production continues unabated despite court orders and environmental laws. In the shimmering salt-swept coastlines of Kachchh in Gujarat, the Kharai camel has long been a symbol of harmony between ecology and culture. Known for its rare ability to swim through the sea to graze on mangroves, this nationally recognized breed is now facing extinction, caught in a deadly struggle between profit and preservation. At the heart of this crisis is the systematic destruction of Cheriya (mangrove) forests—vital feeding grounds for Kharai camels cleared illegally to make way for expanding salt pans. From Bhachau to Vondh, the mangroves have been vanishing at an alarming pace, threatening not just the camels but entire ecosystems. 'Our camels are dying. The Kharai camels that graze on the mangrove trees have been wiped out. The government talks about protection, but we are still waiting,' said Bhikhabhai Rabari, former president of the Kutch Camel Breeders' Association. 'This is not just about camels or trees—it's about survival. We've demanded cancellation of salt leases, a plan to revive the mangrove forests, and a joint monitoring committee.' Despite two clear orders from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2019 and 2020—mandating restoration and a complete halt to salt works in CRZ-I protected areas, violations not only continue, they have intensified. Bulldozers, fire, and illegal embankments have wiped out vast stretches of mangroves, disrupting tidal flow and killing marine life. The numbers tell a chilling story. Between 2018 and 2023, mangrove cover shrank from 4,084 hectares to just 1,312 hectares. In the same period, salt production zones ballooned from 13,681 to 17,918 hectares—many encroaching deep into CRZ-I areas, where activity is strictly prohibited under the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011. 'Heavy machinery has been used to uproot mangrove trees and destroy marine habitats. Crabs, eelgrass, and other underwater species have vanished. In total, 14 salt factories have been found operating illegally in clear violation of the NGT, Environment Protection Act, and CRZ laws,' said Dr. Yashesh Shah, Marine researcher.

Kharai ‘swimming' camels drown in Kutch swamp
Kharai ‘swimming' camels drown in Kutch swamp

Time of India

time27-06-2025

  • General
  • Time of India

Kharai ‘swimming' camels drown in Kutch swamp

Ahmedabad: On June 23, four endangered Kharai camels — two lactating and two pregnant — drowned in a coastal swamp near the Jangi village in Kutch, raising concerns of escalating threats to this rare breed. Renowned as the only breed of camels in the world capable of swimming long distances in seawater to graze on mangroves, the Kharai camels now face severe risks due to rapid habitat degradation and shrinking coastal ecosystems. "The incident carries a particular sting of irony. Jangi is a traditional training ground where young Kharai camels learn to swim during high tide, a skill that helps them adapt to the coastal environment," says Jabbar Sama, project coordinator at 'Sahjeevan', an NGO working with the Rabari and Fakirani Jat tribes, who rely on Kharai camels for milk and transport. Rasul Ali, the 35-year-old Kharai camel herder from Jangi village and owner of two of the deceased Kharai camels, told TOI, "I had taken around 125 camels to graze near the sea. It was raining, and seven camels got stuck in the swamp. I could save three." He added, "Large salt pans, industries and agricultural lands have disrupted coastal mangrove growth and traditional routes of our camels, leading to such tragedies. " A 2013 advocacy report by Sahjeevan and the Kutch Camel Breeders' Association identified 41 bets (creeks) for these camels to swim and access mangroves. N T Nathani, deputy director (in charge) of the Kutch animal husbandry department, said, "The incident was brought to our notice by Bhachau-based veterinary officer after he was informed about it by the camel herder. The officer tried to reach the spot after learning of the incident, but could not. No postmortems have been conducted until now." You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Bhika Rabari, the president of Kachchh Unt Uchherak Maldhari Sangathan (KUUMS), said, "Between 2018 and 2023, mangrove cover in the region shrank drastically from 4,084 to 1,312 hectares, while salt pans expanded from 13,681 to 17,918 hectares." Officiallyabout 4,266 Kharai camels were recorded by the Union govt in Gujarat in Sahjeevan's independent census indicates a starker decline in Kutch; from 1,952 in 2019 to just 1,096 in 2024, a loss of 856 camels in five years. "The mangroves they feed on are vanishing. The govt had promised protection, but we are still waiting for it," Rabari said.

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