SRINAGAR: The Indian Army has formally inducted double-humped Bactrian camels, native to Ladakh’s Nubra Valley, for patrolling and logistical operations in some of the region’s most remote and high-altitude posts, reports appearing in media said.
The hardy camels, known for their ability to survive extreme cold and treacherous terrain, have long been symbols of Ladakh’s historical links to Central Asia and the ancient Silk Route. Today, they are better known as tourist attractions in the Nubra Valley. But with this induction, they are once again being called to serve a strategic role on the frontier.
The Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) in Leh, which has been involved in the conservation and study of Bactrian camels, recently handed over 14 fully trained animals to the Army’s XIV Corps. Alongside the camels, DIHAR also provided standard operating procedures, veterinary health records, and guidelines for handling and deployment.
Officials said the camels will be used for both patrolling duties and ferrying supplies to forward locations where last-mile connectivity remains a challenge despite significant road development across Ladakh in recent years. Traditional pack animals and porters have long served these routes, and the new additions are expected to ease the burden in particularly inaccessible areas.
The move comes as the Army and other security agencies, such as the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), look for sustainable and terrain-adapted logistics solutions in the Himalayas. The ITBP is also reported to be examining the potential use of Bactrian camels in its border patrol operations.
While mechanical mules and drones are being tested for modern logistics, officials say the unique abilities of Bactrian camels to carry heavy loads over long distances and survive in -40°C conditions make them invaluable for certain operations, particularly in terrain where even all-terrain vehicles struggle.
With this move, the Indian Army is not only reinforcing its logistic capabilities but also reviving a piece of Ladakh’s cultural and ecological heritage. The Bactrian camel, once a lifeline of cross-continental trade, is now becoming a silent but sure-footed sentinel of India’s northernmost borders.
