Vol. 6 · No. 1 · 2002

Tezera Getahun and Kassa Belay

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In Ethiopia, as in most dry lands of Africa and Asia, camels are the principal source of income and food for millions of pastoralists. In addition, camels play a central role in providing draught power and determining the wealth and social status of pastoralists. Ethiopia's camel population is estimated to be one million head (FAO 1996a). This number ranks the country third in Africa after Somalia and the Sudan, and fourth in the world (India included). Camels inhabit almost all peripheral drier lowlands that generally fall below 1,500 metres above sea level in Ethiopia, except the western areas where high humidity and the incidence of trypanosomiasis are common (Teka 1991; Tekel 1989; Wilson 1989b). These areas include the major parts of the Somali and Afar National Regional States and some parts of the Oromia National Regional State.