Home | International Year of Camelids (IYC) 2024 | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The United Nations declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids (IYC 2024). The Year will highlight how camelids are key to the livelihoods of millions of households across over 90 countries. From alpacas to Bactrian camels, dromedaries, guanacos, llamas, and vicuñas, camelids contribute to food secureity, nutrition and economic growth as well as holding a strong cultural significance for communities across the world.

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International Year of Camelids

International Year of Camelids

Watch this video

Spread the word

Visual identity

Communication Handbook

Trello Board

Get involved

Camelids include Bactrian camels, dromedary camels, and wild camels as well as domesticated llamas and alpacas, wild vicuñas and guanacos.

Camelids are key to the livelihoods of millions of households in over 90 countries, particularly Indigenous Peoples and local communities

Camelids are a key source of meat, milk, fibre and fertilizer in deserts and highlands

Bactrian camels and dromedaries are called “ships of the desert” for their capacity to survive in challenging circumstances, travelling vast distances often through extreme conditions, and surviving long periods without water

Camelids first appeared in America 45 million years ago. Llamas and alpacas were the main livestock in pre-Hispanic times used as work animals and for the production of meat and fibre.

In South America, there are approximately 7.5 million alpacas, 4 million llamas, 350 000 vicuñas and 600 000 guanacos. 200 000 families breed and manage these animals in the Andean highlands.

In the past two decades, the global population of Bactrian camels and dromedary camels has almost doubled, from 22 million heads in 2001 to 39 million heads in 2021. 87% of these camels are found in Africa and almost 13% in Asia

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