What is/are unique about ‘Kharai Camel’, a breed found in India?

1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater.

2. It survives by grazing on mangroves.

3. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only.

The Kharai Camel (whose name literally means "salty" in Gujarati, derived from the word for saltwater) is an extraordinarily rare and unique breed found primarily in the Kutch region of Gujarat, India. It is the only known camel breed in the world that can swim in seawater, making it a subject of great scientific and conservation interest. Let us evaluate each statement carefully:

Statement 1: "It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater." — ✅ CORRECT
The Kharai Camel is uniquely adapted to a coastal, estuarine environment. Unlike all other camel breeds, which are strictly land-dwelling desert animals, the Kharai Camel can wade and swim through tidal creeks and seawater channels — sometimes covering distances of up to 3 kilometres — in order to reach islands and coastal areas rich in mangrove vegetation. This is an extraordinary physiological and behavioural adaptation that no other camel breed in the world is known to possess. This statement is therefore true and a well-documented feature of this breed.

Statement 2: "It survives by grazing on mangroves." — ✅ CORRECT
The primary food source of the Kharai Camel is mangrove vegetation — specifically the leaves, shoots, and tender branches of mangrove trees found in the intertidal zones and coastal wetlands of the Rann of Kutch and surrounding areas. This diet is yet another unique adaptation, as mangroves are saline, halophytic plants that most other animals avoid. The Kharai Camel's digestive system is specially adapted to process this salt-tolerant vegetation. This statement is therefore true and forms the core ecological niche of this breed.

Statement 3: "It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated." — ❌ INCORRECT
This statement is factually wrong. The Kharai Camel is not a wild, undomesticated animal. It is traditionally herded and raised by a pastoral community known as the Fakirani Jats of Kutch. These herders have maintained and bred Kharai Camels for generations. The camels are domesticated and are owned by specific families — they are valued for their milk, which is rich in nutrients and has commercial significance. The breed is, in fact, listed as a registered livestock breed by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), India. The threat to this breed comes from habitat loss (destruction of mangroves) and legal restrictions on grazing in coastal areas — not because it is wild. Statement 3 is therefore false, and any option containing Statement 3 must be eliminated.

Conclusion:
Since Statements 1 and 2 are both correct, and Statement 3 is incorrect, the answer is definitively "1 and 2 only". The Kharai Camel stands out as a globally unique breed because of its remarkable ability to swim in seawater and its dependence on mangrove grazing — two traits that together define its extraordinary ecological identity.