For centuries, camels have been known as the ultimate survivors of the desert — animals built to endure blistering sun, scarce water, and endless stretches of sand. But as climate change pushes temperatures to unprecedented levels, even these hardy creatures are struggling to cope. Across parts of Africa and the Middle East, rising heat is pushing camels beyond their natural limits, leaving herders anxious about the future of an animal that has long been central to desert life.
Even the “Ships of the Desert” Are Feeling the Heat
Deserts across regions like North Africa and the Middle East are now regularly seeing temperatures climb above 50°C, creating increasingly dangerous conditions for camels. While the animals are remarkably well-adapted to arid climates, experts note that their tolerance for heat isn’t limitless — and as temperatures keep rising, many camels are showing signs of dehydration, exhaustion, and greater susceptibility to illness.
The consequences reach well beyond the animals themselves. Camels are essential to countless communities across northern Africa and the Horn of Africa, used for transporting goods, including salt, across vast desert terrain. Many families had already shifted from cattle to camels in the past because they were seen as more resilient during droughts — but worsening climate conditions are now threatening even that advantage.
Herders Describe Painful Losses
For camel owners, the changing climate has become impossible to ignore. Ali Umer, a herder from northeastern Ethiopia who owns around 500 camels, described the visible toll extreme heat is taking on his animals, noting they develop blisters on their feet, watery eyes, and skin burns from the hot sand, which also damages their coats when they sit down. He shared that in just the past month, he’d lost eight camel calves to the extreme heat, calling the conditions far more intense and difficult than before.
Why Rising Temperatures Are So Dangerous
Experts note that camels can comfortably handle temperatures around 40°C, thanks to their thick coats, efficient temperature regulation, and ability to conserve water through minimal sweating. But those natural adaptations are becoming less effective as deserts grow even hotter. A scientist with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization explained that camels can experience heat stress once temperatures exceed their comfort range, and with summer temperatures in many parts of the Sahara now frequently topping 50°C, the risk of severe heat stress is rising — especially when combined with shrinking vegetation, water scarcity, and limited shade.
With grazing lands shrinking and droughts worsening, camels are now facing multiple environmental pressures at once, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of desert life as the climate continues to change.