Swimming Kharai Camels Cross Sea from Kutch to Dwarka

Dwarka, Gujarat —  While the relentless monsoon rains continue to batter Saurashtra and Kutch region in Gujarat,  a rare and astonishing sight has emerged on the shores of Dwarka. Ten Kharai camels — the only camel breed in Asia known for its swimming ability — reached Dwarka beach after swimming through the Arabian Sea from the coast of Kutch.

A video capturing the moment the camels arrived on the beach has gone viral, leaving locals and animal experts equally stunned. These camels had been washed into the sea due to heavy rains near Deendayal Port in Kutch and swam all the way to Vadinar Port near Dwarka.

“All camels are safe and have been rescued,” said a Vadinar Police official. “They are currently being returned to their owner from Singhach village in Jamnagar district.”

The camels belong to a Maldhari herder who had taken them for grazing near the coastal area of Kandla. When the rains intensified, around 10 camels were swept away by the tide — but instead of perishing, they proved their remarkable endurance by swimming through open sea.

Bhikhabhai Rabari, coordinator of the Maldhari Sanghathan from Jangi village in Bhachau taluka, expressed his surprise at the feat. “The Kharai camel can swim in shallow waters and bays, but this incident is unusual. Swimming from Kutch to Dwarka in the open sea is extraordinary and shows how strong this species is.”

The Unique Kharai Camel: Asia’s Only Swimming Camel

The Kharai camel, also known as the “swimming camel,” is native to the Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambhat regions in Gujarat. The name ‘Kharai’ is derived from the Gujarati word khara, meaning salty — a reference to both its habitat and diet.

What sets the Kharai apart is its ability to swim in seawater to reach island pastures and mangroves. They thrive on a salty diet that includes cher, lana, piludi, and kharijar — plants that grow in the saline soils of coastal Gujarat.

Recognized officially by the Indian government in 2016, the Kharai camel remains a symbol of the delicate balance between traditional pastoral life and ecological uniqueness.

“This isn’t just a story about camels swimming across the sea,” said Ajay Mehta, a local wildlife expert. “It’s a reminder of how nature has equipped certain species in ways we still don’t fully understand.”