The Yaiza City Council approved this Thursday in Plenary to urge the Cabildo of Lanzarote to declare camel rides in Timanfaya as Heritage of Social and Cultural Interest, taking into account the "historical importance" of the figure of the dromedary, which has become a tourist attraction for those who visit the National Park for decades.
The mayor, Óscar Noda, maintains that "the first camel rides were in the fifties and since then the animal has been part of the spectacular landscape offered by Timanfaya thanks to the conservation efforts of the breed made by the farmers of Uga".
From the southern Consistory it is recalled that the camel played a "preponderant" role in the work of tilling and in the construction of the island's landscape. "Now the camel has tourist interest, so these backgrounds highlight its cultural value", it is considered from the institution.
Likewise, it is pointed out that camel rides in Timanfaya are "a tourist, sustainable and regulated activity", which, at the proposal of the Yaiza City Council, even deserved national distinction in 2013 from AMUPARNA, the Association of Municipalities with Territory in National Parks.
The only place in the Archipelago with family camel farms
In addition, the City Council emphasizes that "the municipality of Yaiza is the only place in the Archipelago where there is a nucleus of camel farms managed by family businesses." In fact, it states that the livelihood of forty families from the town of Uga depends on the tourist activity of the camel sector in Timanfaya.
The Administration recognizes the "sacrifice" made by the camel drivers and therefore, every year, together with the Canarian Camel Breeders collective, it supports technical conferences to study and review the strategies and actions of the conservation program aimed at preventing the disappearance of the breed with aspects as important as the planning of matings. "Although the great value of the Timanfaya National Park is its landscape and ecological richness, there is no doubt about the great contribution of the camel drivers to the respectful and tourist exploitation of the territory", adds the Consistory.
Also asks that the rates of camel rides be reviewed
On the other hand, the Yaiza City Council also approved in Plenary to ask the Cabildo of Lanzarote to convene the Board of Trustees of the Timanfaya National Park to carry out the revision of the rates for the service of rides to tourists on camelback, according to the economic studies provided.