CHANDIGARH: The Indian Army is planning to introduce camels as part of overall measures to check intrusion along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), in Ladakh.
LAC is a 4,057-km porous border running through glaciers, snow deserts, mountains and rivers separate India and China
The army plans to use both double-humped (Bactrian) and single-humped camels for patrolling, according to report by the TOI.
The moves in the wake of Indian army’s concerns about the presence of Chinese troops near the Sikkim-Tibet-Bhutan trijunction despite troop disengagement after the Doklam stand-off
The report says these animals will be trained to patrol and carry heavy loads of ammunition and other supplies. The double-humped camels have capacity to carry between 180-220kg loads compared to about 40 kg carried by mules and ponies, traditionally used by the Indian Army.
The double-humped camels can also move faster than mules – up to 10km and 15km on flat track within two hours.
In India, double-humped camels are only found in Ladakh’s Nubra Valley. The Army has already got four dromedary (single-humped) camels to Ladakh from the National Research Centre on Camel in Bikaner.
The plan’s continuation is linked to success of the pilot project. If it goes well, then the Indian Army will use double-humped and single-humped camels in the region and in terrains between the altitude of 12,000 and 15,500 feet.
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