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Context

• The United Nations has declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids.

All about Camelids

• Camelids are members of the biological family Camelidae, the only currently living family in the suborder Tylopoda. The seven extant members of this group are: dromedary camels, Bactrian camels, wild Bactrian camels, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos.
• Camelids are large, strictly herbivorous animals with slender necks and long legs.
• They have three-chambered stomachs.
• They have a unique type of antibodies, which lack the light chain, in addition to the normal antibodies found in other mammals. These so-called heavy-chain antibodies are being used to develop single-domain antibodies with potential pharmaceutical applications.
• Camelids do not have hooves; rather, they have two-toed feet with toenails and soft foot pads.

Importance of Camelids

• According to Food and Agricultural Organization(FAO), camelids influence the lives of millions of households in more than 90 countries.
• As a group Camelids include alpacas, Bactrian camels, dromedaries, guanacos, llamas, vicuñas which together help ensure food security, nutrition and economic growth especially for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
• Camelids play an important role in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) envisaged by the United Nations.
• Camelids are a source of milk and meat which helps people fight hunger.
• They also provide fibre which can be used for clothing and shelter.
• Camelids are also used by people as a means of transportation.
• They also provide organic fertiliser which can be used in agriculture. Moreover, Camelids are known to survive in harsh conditions.
• In the highlands of the Andes mountain ranges and in the arid and semi-arid lands in Africa and Asia, camelids play a major role in the livelihood of the inhabitants. Camelids can thus be ambassadors to raise awareness about climate change.

Objective of The International Year of Camelids 2024

• The International Year of Camelids 2024 aims to build awareness of the untapped potential of camelids and to call for increased investment in the camelid sector, advocating for greater research, capacity development, and the use of innovative practices and technologies.

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