A pioneering project in the Canary Islands is seeking to save the endangered Canary Island camel by promoting its milk, which researchers describe as one of the most nutritious in the world. The initiative, led by Guaci Cabrera and her company Dromemilk, aims to transform the economic value of the animal beyond its traditional use in tourism, offering a sustainable future for the breed.
According to Cabrera, camel milk is the closest animal milk to human breast milk and contains significantly higher levels of vitamins B, C, D, and E compared to cow or goat milk. A 250-millilitre glass of camel milk provides nutritional value equivalent to consuming two whole sardines with bones and two eggs. Its fat content is so low that it is considered skimmed milk, and it is one of the few types of milk, alongside mare and rat milk, that is compatible with people who are lactose intolerant or allergic to cow's milk.
The milk also has a high protein content, making it particularly beneficial for athletes. Studies cited by the project indicate that consuming camel milk after intense training can help repair muscle tissue within just 20 minutes. Additionally, the milk contains a specific component that aids insulin function, and research supported by 7,000 theses shows that a 250-millilitre glass can reduce blood sugar levels in humans by 50 percent.
Dromemilk has designed a commercial strategy to ensure that the dairy industry directly benefits the animal. For the first two years, the milk will be sold exclusively within the Canary Islands, with the aim of creating a gastronomic product with a protected designation of origin. Cabrera stressed that if locals do not value the product, the effort will have failed. From the second and third years onward, distribution will expand to the Mediterranean basin, encouraging the establishment of new farms both within and outside the archipelago.
The company has no intention of competing with cow or goat milk and will not sell through large retail platforms. Instead, it will focus on restaurants and small shops. All proceeds from sales will be reinvested into the maintenance of the animals, covering high calf mortality rates and funding further research into the benefits of camel products, including urine, which also has significant medicinal properties.
The Canary Island camel is a unique breed, descended from African camels that arrived in the islands six centuries ago on slave ships. It is smaller, stockier, and more muscular than its African relatives. In the past, owning a camel in the Canary Islands was a symbol of social prestige, and there were once more than 3,000 animals on Fuerteventura alone. The breed was officially recognised by the Canary Islands government in 2011, after a ban on importing African camels had been in place since the 1980s.
Today, the global population of Canary Island camels is fewer than 900, placing the breed in critical danger of extinction. Cabrera lamented that the animal is still seen as a novelty rather than a normal working animal, which has hindered efforts to secure legal and practical support for its preservation. She noted that the United Nations recognised the camel in 2011 and 2018 as the most resilient animal for combating climate change in arid regions, including parts of Africa, Almería, and southern Andalusia.
The project has been 40 years in the making, with no financial profit so far. Cabrera emphasised that the goal is not economic gain but the survival of the breed. She urged the public to discover the value of the Canary Island camel, describing it as a highly sensitive and intelligent animal that can synchronise its heart rate with humans.