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In The Camels of the Sea, Jethabhai Rabari reflects on the plight of his Kharai camels, an endangered breed uniquely adapted to Gujarat's coastal ecozone. Once owning 300 camels, Jethabhai now has only 40, due to restrictions that prevent the camels from accessing the mangroves they depend on for food. The Kharai camels, herded by the Fakirani Jat and Bhopa Rabari communities since the 17th century, have long swum in the Gulf of Kachchh's mangroves in search of cher (mangrove leaves), which are crucial to their diet. However, since a 1995 ban on grazing inside the Marine National Park and Sanctuary, the survival of these camels and their herders has been jeopardised. The film captures the camels’ desperate swims in search of nourishment and the herders' struggles to keep them alive amidst increasing fines and seizures by park authorities. Through Jethabhai's poignant narrative and the camels' dramatic search for food, the film highlights the clash between conservation efforts and traditional livelihoods, underscoring the urgent need to address the challenges faced by these remarkable animals and their devoted keepers.

  • Year
    2022
  • Runtime
    13 minutes
  • Language
    Gujarati, Hindi
  • Country
    India
  • Genre
    Forced to Adapt
  • Subtitle Language
    English, Assamese, Bangla, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Urdu
  • Social Media
  • Director
    Urja
  • Producer
    People's Archive of Rural India
  • Cast
    Jethabhai Rabari, Aadam Jat, Hari Jethabhai Mori, Jiviben Khambhala, Ritesh Pokar, Dr. Ilse Köhler-Rollefson, Shilpi Srivastava
  • Cinematographer
    Urja
  • Editor
    Urja
  • Music
    Aangan Talawadi sung by Jiviben Khambala