An Assessment of Camel Marking and Clan Identification in the Afar Regional State, Ethiopia: The Case of Berhale Woreda

AbstractThis study evaluated the indigenous protocols for camel recognition currently practiced within the Berhale district of Ethiopia’s Afar Territory. By surveying 90 pastoralist units through a cross-sectional lens, the study established that phenotypic marking represents a ubiquitous norm, functioning as the cornerstone of local herd administration. Participants detailed how each primary lineage and sub-group locally designated as gosa deploys specific heraldic motifs on designated anatomical zones to validate communal ownership and deter illicit acquisition. Thermal cauterisation (fire-branding) was identified as the prevailing modality, generally administered once calves have achieved post-weaning maturity. Our spatial assessment of these branding sites indicated that a 60% majority (n=54) favours a dual-marking strategy involving the cervical and appendicular regions. Additionally, a focused neck-branding approach was recorded for 32.2% of the cohort (n=29). Peripheral identifiers were also noted on the cranial surface, pinnae, and occasionally the ventral region. The data suggests that fire-branding constitutes the fundamental ethno-legal framework for certifying property rights and fortifying the security of dromedary populations throughout Berhale Woreda.