Jaipur, Oct. 2 -- The Rajasthan government has lifted the ban on the export and inter-state transport of camels, officials said. About 11 years ago, the then Vasundhara Raje government had declared the camel the state animal and passed the Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Breeding or Migration) Act, 2015 to ban slaughter and restrict its sale and transport to other states. The current Bhajanlal government has now issued a notification permitting temporary breeding or migration of camels to other states, citing their declining population and the welfare of camel herders. The move aims to provide relief to herders while also promoting camel conservation. According to the order issued by the animal husbandry department, camels can now be taken out of the state only after following specific procedures and conditions. Transporting camels outside the state requires prior approval from the competent authority, and a veterinary officer must certify the camel's health; transport without a health certificate will be considered illegal. If a camel is being transported for temporary breeding or agricultural purposes, the purpose and return date must be specified. Camels taken temporarily out of the state must be returned within the stipulated period, failing which the permission will automatically be cancelled. Section 15(7) of the Act allows special permission for camels used in agriculture or academic research, and the permit must clearly mention the purpose, location, and duration of use. The government has also warned that violations will be dealt with under the Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act, 2015. Slaughtering a camel can attract up to seven years in jail, while illegal transport or trafficking may result in six months to three years' imprisonment and fines ranging from Rs.3,000 to Rs.25,000. Earlier in 2024, to conserve state animal camel, the state government had decided to provide free insurance of Rs.5 lakh. Rajasthan, which has around 86% of India's camels, has seen a sharp decline in its camel population. From 746,000 in 1992, the number fell to 325,000 in 2012 and further to 212,739 by 2019....