For generations, camels have earned the nickname “ships of the desert” for their resilience to heat and drought, carrying salt, grain and people across the African highlands. Yet the Afar region of north‑eastern Ethiopia, one of the world’s hottest places, has seen even these hardy mammals suffer from a new, relentless enemy: rising temperatures.
"I can see my camels suffering from extreme heat," said Ali Umer, a 40‑year‑old herder from Semera who owns about 500 camels. He attributes blisters on their feet, watery eyes and hair loss to the sand’s scorching heat. In the past month he has lost eight calves, a loss that underscores his growing concern for disease outbreaks.
Scientists, animal health experts, and pastoralist research confirm Umer’s observations. A 2025 study of southern Ethiopian herders found that climate variability has diminished camel health, productivity and reproduction. A 2026 publication from Somalia reported a 46% mortality rate among camel‑owning households during recent droughts, with some regions experiencing up to 73% loss.
Heat further exacerbates the situation by eroding water supplies, vegetation cover and shade—critical refuges for camels. Veterinary officers in Kenya notice a 15% increase in camel deaths in the past two years, citing hyperthermia that leads to infections. In North Africa, a 2025 WMO report records the fastest warming among sub‑regions, with temperatures above 50°C now more common and an average rise of 0.43°C per decade between 1991 and 2025.
When temperatures surpass 41–45°C, researchers see cellular damage and immune suppression in camels, reducing their metabolic appetite and milk output. Prolonged exposure also heightens reproduction disorders, while the desert’s lack of shade magnifies stress.
Adaptations are mounting. Many herders are moving their herds away from northern zones to southern pastures where relative humidity, water and vegetation remain more stable. This relocation is not merely seasonal but a lasting shift driven by climate, and it illustrates the growing need for strategic water provisioning, supplemental feeding, and improved disease monitoring during peak heatwaves.
The future of pastoralism in Africa now hinges on how communities, governments and international agencies address the dual threats of extreme heat and resource scarcity. Enhancing veterinary services, sustaining pasture cover and developing heat‑stress mitigation programs will be essential to protect both camel lives and the livelihoods that depend on them.
