The development and continuity of the camel species
UNESCO has declared 2024 as the International Year of Camelids to recognize the contribution of this species to the survival of the population in hostile conditions. Few events have been developed, as far as we know, for this purpose, ranging from a drawing contest at the regional level organized by the Mercedes Medina Díaz Association, based in Lanzarote, in collaboration with the CICAR business group; an exhibition of farming tools used for camels, carried out by the Cabildo of Lanzarote through the III Livestock, Agricultural and Fisheries Fair; and the great event of 34 countries in Paris last April, carried out with many difficulties, where Spain was represented by a Majorero specimen from the company Dromemilk Camel Bio Farm.
There is data that places the arrival of the camel in the Canary Islands at the beginning of the 15th century, from the African continent. The farmer's ingenuity provided it with multiple tools for use in the field: the plow, the board, the harrow, the serón, vaso or baso, loading chair, vintage boxes, barrels of water or to transport must, and chair with arms. The camel, together with man, has contributed until the mid-twentieth century to shape the unique agricultural landscape of Lanzarote, which is why the island is known worldwide. The Canary camel was present in all country houses and participated in multiple tasks: plowing for sowing cereals, boarding in the sands and threshing. The Canary camel breed is very profitable, with a life expectancy of 30 years and a load capacity of approximately 350 kg.
In Lanzarote, the camel was "the engineer" tracing the incredible paths to reach the most unlikely places with cargo. After the volcanic eruptions, it was the determining animal, together with man, to make the spaces densely covered by ash productive again. It transported volcanic stones to make the wind-protective socos. The serón, an artifact created by man adapted to the animal's physiognomy, allowed the transport of sand and manure for fertilizer. The loading chair was present in all agricultural and transport tasks of belongings and people. The cross was used as the "driver's" post when traveling alone. The camel was a fundamental element in times of harvest: accessing the winding terrains of vines, the harmony of its footsteps on the rofe and the balance to hold heavy boxes of cargo to take to the winery were unique tasks entrusted to the camel. It was also to load two barrels of must of almost a pipe capacity between the winery and the cellar. The popular arao was used to plow the arid farmlands destined for the cultivation of cereals. Thousands of hectares were plowed each year to obtain from these drylands the miracle of the grain sprouting. The eastern islands were known as "the granary of the Canary Islands".
CAMEL ATTRACTS TOURISM TO LANZAROTE
The first adventurers were surprised by the natural spaces created by the volcanic eruptions and the landscaped landscape that man, with the help of the camel, had created. The furrows, the terraces and the socos created, in short, a unique landscape geometry. The first photos and postcards that travel the world place Lanzarote on the global map.
With the commissioning of the National Tourism Inn, where the first travelers and adventurers transformed into tourists arrived, they began to demand services related to the visit and interaction with the peasants, using the first taxi drivers of the city as tourist information providers. The director of the National Tourism Inn himself pointed out the indicated places and where they could find the appropriate farming activity according to the season of the year. In this way, the taxi driver and the traveler went to the land in times of onions, tomatoes or cereal harvesting, and there the ride to the mythical Mountains of Fire was hired. Thus, in such a natural way, in the mid-fifties the change of activity of the camel was gestating, going from exclusively agricultural use to tourist use. Since the countryside, at that time, was not in the best moment, it was quite profitable to dedicate a fortnight to agricultural tasks and another to offer trips in Timanfaya.
Yaiza, Uga and El Echadero de camellos formed the perfect "triangle" for the beginning of a new tourist activity. Little by little, the farmer left the exclusivity of the field and became a camel driver. At the beginning, the hiring of services was carried out in a similar way to that of a taxi: go up the seven kilometers and wait for a client to appear, in a system full of uncertainty and errors. Then, when public telephones arrived, this route was used to hire in a store at the entrance of the town of Yaiza and in Uga, in another store canteen or restaurant, leaving the responsibility of the "shifts" centralized in these two points. In its origins, the organization of trips with agencies was not very orthodox. The camel herd was aging and there were difficulties in increasing the number of camels. The Cabildo had to be resorted to manage a contingent of camels from Africa and a distribution was made to meet the growing demand in El Echadero. Little by little, the herd was increasing, strengthening reproduction and increasing the number of owners and personnel dedicated to this activity, mainly in the town of Uga. The entire herd was housed in gañanías near the houses of the families until the eighties, when the camels were "taken out" of the town and relocated to El Vallito, where each owner built their new facilities of stables and warehouses necessary to develop this unique activity.
Currently there are approximately 300 licenses authorized to operate in this activity. The work begins in the early hours of the morning to transfer to El Echadero, about 7.5 km in groups of 7 camels for each camel driver and according to the assigned shifts they go up to perform the task. This activity is regulated so that the camels go up to the echadero between 2 and 3 days a week according to the groups of owners, allowing the rest of the days of rest. The professionals who work with the camels, more than fifty people, spend a day dedicated to this demanding work that on the other hand compensate by sharing the daily emotions of the users who every day climb on the backs of their camels on a 45-minute tour. The Timanfaya Park, created in 1974, is the first park with geological content that also has a unique world attraction of the camel ride with nearly 70 years of existence and that most visitors use as one of the main attractions of the island. The City Council of Yaiza, through an ordinance, controls the management, the shifts and the licenses, also coordinates with the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy of the Government of the Canary Islands and with the Cabildo, through the Tourist Board. Francisco Mesa Lemes is a young enthusiastic camel driver, vice president of the Canary Camel Association and president of the Cultural Association for the Promotion and Development of the Canary Camel in Lanzarote (ACALAN).
OASIS PARK FUERTEVENTURA Innovation and Conservation for the Protection of the Canary Camel through Dromemilk Camel BioFarm. (La Lajita)
Innovation, science, tradition and conservation came together more than 35 years ago in Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura, to give way to a unique project: Dromemilk Camel Bio Farm. This visionary project was born with a clear mission: to rescue and protect the breed of the Canary camel, an autochthonous species that has been part of the cultural landscape of the Canary Islands for centuries.
This family business, which began with only four camels, has grown to become the main European reference in the breeding of Canary camels, with a population of more than 400 specimens. This ambitious project has as its fundamental objective the preservation of the Canary camel, recognized in 2012 as an autochthonous breed in the Official Catalog of Livestock Breeds of Spain, becoming the only European autochthonous breed of its species. In 2023, the Canary Camel joined the logo "100% Autochthonous Breed", which certifies the racial origin of products such as its meat, milk and derivatives, highlighting its value in the conservation of biodiversity.
Under the leadership of Guacimara Cabrera, CEO of Dromemilk and president of the Association of Canary Camel Breeders, the project has achieved important achievements in the conservation of this species. In addition to increasing the population of camels, Dromemilk has stood out for its firm commitment to the conservation of the natural environment where these animals live. The project is developed in an environment of one million square meters, where camels are raised in freedom, respecting the ecological balance and promoting a sustainable production model that guarantees both the survival of the species and the preservation of the natural resources of Fuerteventura.
Dromemilk has been widely recognized for its innovative approach. In the Food of Spain Awards, the company was awarded the prestigious recognition of the "Entrepreneurial Initiative" for its research and development of products derived from camel milk, obtained exclusively from the autochthonous Canary breed. This award highlights not only its contribution to the livestock sector, but also its ability to integrate sustainable practices and high added value in the agri-food industry.
Dromemilk's educational activities are managed through the Chekipa Foundation. Through it, Dromemilk promotes environmental awareness programs and promotes knowledge about the importance of the conservation of the Canary camel and its environment. These educational efforts extend to both the local community and visitors, integrating conservation and education into a single sustainability strategy.
In 2024, Dromemilk Camel Bio Farm represented Spain in the parade of the International Year of Camelids, held in Paris and organized by the United Nations. This event highlighted the global importance of camelids, not only for food security, but also for the preservation of biodiversity. The participation in this prestigious meeting underlines the international relevance of Dromemilk, as a model of success in the conservation of species and sustainable development.
Dromemilk Camel Bio Farm is a clear example of how tradition, innovation and sustainability can converge in a project that protects both biodiversity and the cultural heritage of the Canary Islands. By doing so, it guarantees the survival of an endangered species and promotes rural development, contributing to the conservation of the natural resources of Fuerteventura and consolidating itself as a global benchmark in sustainable management.
