33 rare Kharai camels caught in sea tide rescued off Gujarat coast

RAJKOT: A herd of 33 rare Kharai camels from Singach village was grazing on mangroves on Kalubhar Tapu, an island in Arabian Sea off Gujarat's Jamnagar Tuesday. They wandered too close to the shoreline. Then the tide rose and they were caught in turbulent waters .

The breed - unique for its ability to swim and thrive in the marshlands of Kutch - is among the few camels globally adapted to coastal ecosystems. The herd struggled to stay afloat, with the tide rising fast.

They swam 3km through rough sea, but got trapped near the rocky coast off Vadinar Jetty. Video clips showed the muscular beasts - each weighing up to 500kg - thrashing in monsoon-swollen surf as waves surged across the Kutch coastline.

Vadinar marine police and villagers launched a swift rescue. Wading through surf, they surrounded the herd and steered the exhausted animals back to solid ground.

"The camels were spotted drifting in rough waters near the jetty. We rushed with herders and waited for the tide to recede before guiding them to the shore," Vadinar marine police station inspector VR Shukla said. "Used to freshwater and marshlands, the seawater posed a serious risk to the camels."

No animal was harmed. All 33 were safely returned to their owners from Singach.