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The Changing Role of Camels among the Bedouin of the Negev

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Abstract

Traditionally, Negev Bedouin depended on semi-nomadic pastoralism for their livelihood and were always associated with camels. Camels were used as pack animals, for transportation, and for plowing. These functions have recently been replaced by motorized vehicles. Urbanization changed Bedouin societies and presently there is much less need and space available to maintain camels. While the number of camels increased worldwide, mainly because of meat and milk production, the number of camels among Negev Bedouin decreased. They rarely eat camel meat and milk production is on a small scale, mostly unofficial. Most, particular younger Bedouin, believe that they are less identified with camels than with sheep and goats. All, however, expressed their desire to maintain camels for traditional reasons, but complained that it is difficult to do so due to a lack of grazing lands, government indifference, and tax laws concerning camels.

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Notes

  1. Camels are mentioned in the Koran 18 times.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Bedouin who participated in this study, eight owners of sites that offer camel rides and two owners of camel dairies for helpful discussions, Ellis Gross, director of Department of Veterinary Services, Beer Sheva, and Ariel Ullman, Chairman of the Society for Raising Camels in Israel for information on the status of Negev camels, and two reviewers for their comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wyler Department for Dryland Agriculture, Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8410500, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    A. Allan Degen & Michael Kam

  2. Achva Academic College, M.P. Shikmim, 79800, Arugot, Israel

    Shaher El-Meccawi

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  1. A. Allan Degen
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  2. Shaher El-Meccawi
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Correspondence to A. Allan Degen.

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Degen, A.A., El-Meccawi, S. & Kam, M. The Changing Role of Camels among the Bedouin of the Negev. Hum Ecol 47, 193–204 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-019-0062-y

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