Extreme Heat Kills Camels Across Africa as Somalia's Sool Reports 73% Mortality
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 22
Extreme Heat Kills Camels Across Africa as Somalia's Sool Reports 73% Mortality
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 22
Summary
Somalia's Sool region has recorded nearly 73% camel mortality, with a June study finding drought-related losses hit almost 46% of camel-owning households nationwide.
Temperatures above camels' comfort range of about 40C are driving heat stress, dehydration, infections and lower milk yields, while parts of the Sahara now frequently exceed 50C.
Kenya's Marsabit county has seen camel deaths rise more than 15% in two years, and herders in Ethiopia's Afar say calves are already dying as hot sand, scarce water and disease risks intensify.
North Africa is warming fastest in Africa at 0.43C per decade since 1991, and experts say shrinking vegetation, limited shade and weak veterinary services are turning a traditionally resilient animal into a climate casualty.
Can a way of life that thrived for millennia survive a climate that now kills even its camels?
As the 'ships of the desert' die from heat, are ancient pastoralist cultures facing extinction too?
Camel Catastrophe: 2026 Drought Drives Record Deaths and Humanitarian Crisis in the Horn of Africa
Overview
In 2026, the Horn of Africa faces an unprecedented camel mortality crisis, posing a severe threat to livelihoods and regional stability. The crisis is widespread, with countries like Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda experiencing similar challenges. In Somalia, the situation is especially dire due to state fragility and ongoing conflict. The main drivers are prolonged and intense drought, worsened by extreme temperatures, which have overwhelmed existing drought management systems. The long duration of these harsh conditions has led to staggering camel losses, raising urgent questions about the region’s ability to cope with future climate shocks.