National Camel Racing Championship "Sif El Djazaïr"

19/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

As part of the celebration of the International Year of Camelids, and with the aim of promoting the cultural, traditional, and sporting role of the dromedary, the Algerian Federation of Camel Racing (AFCR) organized the National Mehari Racing Championship entitled "Sif El Djazaïr", in coordination with the Directorate of Youth and Sports of the Wilaya of Ouargla.

This national eve...

Closing Ceremony - International Year of Camelids 2024

Rome (Italy), 30/06/2025

The International Year of Camelids (IYC) Closing Ceremony will take place on Monday, 30 June 2025, from 19:45 to 21:15 at FAO headquarters, as a side event of the 44th Session of the FAO Conference (28 June – 4 July).

Creative Camel Mosaic Workshop: An Inclusive Initiative for Children with Autism

(Algeria), 21/05/2025 - 31/05/2025

As part of the celebration of the International Year of Camelids, the National Institute of Agronomic Research of Algeria (INRAA), in collaboration with OTIZMA SPACE, a specialized educational center, organized the Creative Camel Mosaic Workshop—a pioneering, inclusive initiative designed especially for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The workshop featured many interactive and ...

Regional Forum on the International Year of Camelids and Sustainable Livestock Transformation in Africa

Nairobi (Kenya), 10/06/2025 - 12/06/2025

The Regional Forum on the International Year of Camelids and Sustainable Livestock Transformation in Africa, co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), aims to raise awareness of the critical role of sustainable livestock systems and dromedary camels in food security, nutrition, res...

Multi-stakeholder perspectives on the role of camelids for a sustainable livestock sector: Case studies and success stories from around the world

Virtual Event, 27/05/2025

The United Nations declared 2024 as the International Year of Camelids (IYC 2024), recognizing the critical role of camelids (camels, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, guanacos) in food security, livelihoods, and ecosystem resilience, particularly in arid and marginal environments.

Throughout the year, the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL) knowledge partners have contrib...

II Regional Meeting for the Promotion and Sustainable Development of the Camelid Sector in Latin America

Antofagasta (Chile), Hybrid Event, 07/05/2025 - 09/05/2025

In the context of the International Year of Camelids 2024, the Plurinational State of Bolivia and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) convened the First Regional Meeting of South American Camelids, h...

Training Workshop on Vicuña Fibre Spinning

Santa Catalina (Argentina), 14/03/2025 - 17/03/2025

Following other successful activities held in 2024 as part of the International Year of Camelids, “VICAM: Vicuñas, Camélidos y Ambiente” and the Community Council of Santa Catalina, Jujuy, organized a training course on vicuña fibre spinning. The course was led by Juana Moreno de Herrero, a master trainer from the province of Catamarca. Participants included women experts in llama fibre spin...

1st Networking Seminar on Camel Genetics, Genomics and Phenotypic Assessment

Virtual Event, 22/06/2025 - 26/06/2025

The International Camel Consortium for Genetic Improvement and Conservation (ICC-GIC), under the auspices of the International Society of Camelid Research and Development (ISOCARD), organized the 1st Networking Seminar on Camel Genetics, Genomics, and Phenotypic Assessment.

This virtual event aligned with the objectives of the International Year of Camelids (IYC) by promoting scie...

Camelles - Horizons of the Desert: Honoring the Past, Building the Future

Virtual Event, 08/03/2025

Camelles ("Horizons of the Desert: Honoring the Past, Building the Future"), organized by partners from five continents, celebrated the significant contributions of women to promoting sustainable practices, cultural heritage, economic development, and innovation across multiple sectors — including industry, sports, science, adventure tourism, and culture.

The event featured keynot...

The Camelid Experience NYC 2025

Chester (United States), 18/06/2025 - 23/06/2025

The Camelid Experience NYC 2025 was an international gathering dedicated to camelids, their welfare, and global recognition, blending science, tradition, and culture.

This edition celebrated World Camel Day on June 22, aiming to elevate it into the Global World Camelids Day—a symbol of sustainability and pastoralism preservation.

Camels paraded through the streets of New York Ci...

The Future of Camels in India: How to Ensure their Conservation and Well-Being

New Delhi (India), 27/02/2025

India’s camels are in a deep crisis. While the global camel population has tripled over the last half century, its numbers in India have shrunk from over one million head to an estimated 200,000 or less currently. This trend continues despite the camel being declared the state animal of Rajasthan and protected by The Rajasthan Camel ...

Santa Catalina International Year of Camelids Celebration: Community camelid mural

Santa Catalina (Argentina), 22/10/2024 - 24/10/2024

As part of the celebrations for the International Year of Camelids, the Community Council of Santa Catalina decided to create a camelid-themed mural. This mural was a collaborative project that involved primary and secondary schools, representatives of the local government and other community members. The project initiated through the school's ceramics workshop, where studen...

Santa Catalina International Year of Camelids Celebration: Training workshop on the production of llama meat sausages

Santa Catalina (Argentina), 23/10/2024 - 24/10/2024

Based on the need to raise the market value of llama meat, VICAM and the Satoyama Initiative sponsored a training workshop on the production of llama meat sausages, organized by the Santa Catalina Community Council. Held in the municipal town hall, numerous participants learnt about the production of llama sausages, hamburgers and mortadela. The resulting products from the wo...

Santa Catalina International Year of Camelids Celebration: Traditional llama fibre spinning contest

Santa Catalina (Argentina), 22/10/2024

Sponsored by VICAM and the Satoyama Initiative, the Community Council of Santa Catalina held its annual llama fibre spinning contest, which featured several categories: children, youth, adults, and grandparents. The opening ceremony of the contest emphasized the ancestral significance of spinning and weaving in Andean culture.

Santa Catalina International Year of Camelids Celebration: Cooking competition of traditional dishes using llama meat

Santa Catalina (Argentina), 22/10/2024

Sponsored by VICAM and the Satoyama Initiative, the Santa Catalina Community Council organized a competition of regional dishes using llama meat as the main ingredient. Fourteen dishes were presented, all prepared by women from the community. These included empanadas, escabeches, morcillas and stews with corn (especially the typical machorra and kalapu...

Santa Catalina International Year of Camelids Celebration: Ashka Llama

Santa Catalina (Argentina), 24/11/2024

Ashka Llama translates to "many llamas" in Quechua, the indigenous language of the Andean altiplano. The Ashka Llama is a beauty competition where local herders showcase their animals. The competition’s jury consisted of representatives from national, provincial, and scientific institutions that promote camelid breeding, including two researchers from VICAM.

HRH Princess Basma bint Ali of Jordan interview on camelids at COP16

Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), 02/12/2024 - 13/12/2024

At the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) that took place in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), HRH Princess Basma bint Ali of Jordan, FAO Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Near East and North Africa, delved into the importance of camelids for many communities worldwide: "The relationship between camelids and ...

Camelendar: The Global Camelids Index

Virtual Event, 31/12/2023

Camelendar is a global index dedicated to camelids, developed in the context of the International Year of Camelids. It provides a centralized resource for information related to camelids. Camelendar compiles a wide range of content, including activities, events, publications, and camelid species. Equipped with automatic translation chat forums, Camelendar supports multilingual engagement. Op...

Curso “Introducción a la exportación de productos para el sector de Camélidos de Bolivia”

Virtual Event, 25/11/2024 - 26/11/2024

La Cámara de Exportadores de Bolivia (CANEB) organizó un curso online para proporcionar una introducción integral para empresas bolivianas que trabajan con productos de camélidos, especialmente enfocado para emprendedores del sector textil y cárnico de camélidos, que están interesadas en su exportación. El curso aborda las exportaciones de Bolivia a través ...

IYC booth exhibition at the 2nd edition of the King's Camel Festival

Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), 01/02/2025 - 05/02/2025

FAO set up an exhibition booth dedicated to the International Year of Camelids (IYC) at the 2nd edition of the King's Camel Festival. Through video screenings and engagement with FAO staff, festival participants learned about IYC activities and the contribution of camelids to food security, nutrition, and economic growth, as well as their cultural significance to communities worldwide. The ...