Celebrating the Year of Camelids 2024 with Summer Land Camels
A Global Tribute to These Majestic Creatures
In a world often beset by challenges, the United Nations has taken a unique and uplifting step to bring attention to an often-overlooked species—the camelid. The year 2024 has been designated as the United Nations Year of Camelids, an initiative aimed at celebrating and promoting the welfare of these remarkable creatures. From the iconic llamas of South America to the enduring camels of the Middle East, Asia, and of course Australia, this special year recognizes the vital roles that camelids play in various cultures, economies, and ecosystems around the globe.
Why Camelids?
Camelids, including camels, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos, have been integral to human societies for centuries. These resilient animals have adapted to diverse environments, offering crucial services in transportation, agriculture, and textile production. Beyond their practical contributions, camelids also hold cultural and symbolic significance for many communities, representing endurance, adaptability, and companionship.
At Summer Land Camels, we love camelids of all shapes and sizes, however for us, it’s all about the camels! Australia has the largest population of wild camels in the world and our camels are the one-hump dromedary (Camelus dromedarius). Two-hump camels are called Bactrians (Camelus bactrianus) and they are native to central Asia.
Themes of the International Year of Camelids (IYC 2024)
Biodiversity and Conservation: The Year of the Camelid provides a platform to address the conservation challenges faced by these species. Some camelid species, such as the vicuña, have faced endangerment due to poaching and habitat loss. This year encourages nations to collaborate on conservation efforts to ensure the survival of these unique animals and their ecosystems.
Food Security and Nutrition: Camels play a significant role in contributing to food security and nutrition in various parts of the world, especially in arid and semi-arid regions where other livestock may struggle to survive. Their unique physiological characteristics and adaptability make them valuable assets in addressing the challenges of food production in harsh environments.
Sustainable Agriculture: Camelids are known for their ability to thrive in arid and harsh environments, making them valuable assets in sustainable agriculture. The Year of the Camelid promotes practices that integrate these animals into agricultural systems, fostering resilience and reducing the environmental impact of farming. Summer Land Camels is committed to using camels for regenerative and sustainable farming.
Cultural Exchange: By celebrating IYC 2024, the United Nations encourages cultural exchange and understanding among nations. Many countries have rich traditions and folklore associated with camelids, and this year offers a chance for communities to share their stories, knowledge, and practices related to these animals.
Economic Empowerment: Camelids play a crucial role in the livelihoods of many communities, particularly through their contributions to nutrition and the textile industry. The Year of the Camelid aims to highlight the economic importance of these animals and explore ways to support and empower communities that rely on them.
How to Celebrate 2024 The UN Year of Camelids with Summer Land Camels
Summer Land Camels is Australia’s largest Camel dairy and the world’s largest wild camel training centre. We are located in the Greater Brisbane region, near Harrisville in the beautiful Scenic Rim. When you visit, you will have the opportunity to learn about these amazing creatures and interact with them. You may find that you leave with a newfound respect, or perhaps even new affection, for them.
Camel Farm Experiences
The Farm Tour & Taste is a behind-the-scenes tour that is a must if you want to learn all about camels and the true history and role of camels in Australia. Our interactive Cameleer Experience is highly entertaining and will leave you with a new appreciation for these unique and quirky creatures.
Another way to experience camels is to take a camel ride. It’s a unique and memorable experience that is popular for both children and adults. For the more adventurous, the Sunrise Camel Ride is a fantastic option! Feel the magic and serenity as you settle into a peaceful ride around our property aboard our gentle ‘camel caravan’, the same mode of transport used by early outback pioneers.
The Homestead Café is a peaceful setting to enjoy lunch, take in the stunning views, and sample our award-winning Camel Milk products from our menu. Our Camelcinos and Camellattes come very highly recommended, as does our delicious gelato.
Camel Products
Summer Land Camels has been at the forefront of innovation when it comes to developing new products with Camel Milk, with an emphasis on preserving the amazing health benefits of the milk.
One area that has been particularly successful is the development of Camel Milk cheese. Although Camel Milk is notoriously difficult to make into cheese, our team has been able to create Persian Feta, Fromage Blanc, Haloumi and even cheddar. (Currently only our Feta is available for purchase). The unique structure of the milk, with the small fat and protein molecules makes cheeses with a delicate, smooth and creamy mouthfeel and the taste is second to none.
As delicious as Camel Milk and Camel Cheese is, perhaps the most astounding thing is that all Camel Milk dairy products can be consumed by people with dairy sensitivities and lactose issues.
Our fresh Camel products are available from our farm, from a range of stockists and we also offer a home delivery service to certain postcodes in southeast Queensland and northern NSW.
Camel Milk is in high demand around the world – Australian Camel Milk in particular, but there are challenges in transporting and storing the fresh milk. To make our award-winning fresh milk available to more people, we now have our Camel Milk powder - freeze-dried to lock in the pure goodness. Available in 100g, 200g and 1kg re-sealable bags from our online shop. Can be shipped worldwide.
World-first and Sustainable: We also have range of Camel Milk Vodkas including our Camel Milk & Honey Vodka, Pure Camel Milk Vodka and Barrel Aged Camel Milk & Honey Vodka. Available at our farm or from our online shop for Australian customers only.
Camel Milk Skincare; When it comes to skin health, Camel Milk is a saviour for many people who experience eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions. Camel Milk is a superfood for the skin - rich in healthy vitamins and minerals, and contains disease-fighting immunoglobulins, providing potent healing benefits for the skin biome. The unique milk structure can penetrate lower layers of the skin and provide everything that is needed for healthy, younger, and brighter looking skin.
Our skincare range is available for purchase from our farm, through stockists and from our online shop. Shipping is available worldwide.
Combining our award-winning products with a true farm-to-plate experience where visitors can interact with our friendly camels in a number of ways makes Summer Land Camels unique.
The United Nations Year of Camelids 2024 represents a unique opportunity to appreciate and protect these remarkable creatures. By focusing on biodiversity, conservation, sustainable agriculture, cultural exchange, and economic empowerment, this initiative aims to create a lasting impact on the welfare of camelids and the communities that depend on them. As we celebrate the resilience and adaptability of camelids, let us also recognize our shared responsibility to ensure their continued presence on our planet for generations to come.