Lanzarote Cabildo unanimously approves institutional declaration to protect camel riding sector

The Lanzarote Cabildo has unanimously approved an institutional declaration in support of the island’s camel riding sector.

The president and councillor for agriculture of the Lanzarote Cabildo said: “This institutional declaration reaffirms the entire Cabildo’s clear stance in defence of the camel breeding sector, and this unity should serve as an example to a sector that needs not only financial resources but also a regulatory framework that provides it with security and protection.”

For his part, Councillor Jesús Machín explained: “This is a sector that has been linked to Lanzarote’s development for centuries, that has managed to adapt without losing its essence, and that today remains part of the island’s landscape and way of life.” He further added: “It is necessary for institutions to provide a clear and unified response to information that does not correspond to the reality of the daily work carried out by camel herding families.”

In this regard, Machín stressed: “One cannot understand Timanfaya without the camel, nor Lanzarote’s agricultural landscape without its historical contribution.” He also noted: “Defending this sector also means protecting a fundamental part of our culture and our island’s way of life.”

The approved agreement establishes the Cabildo’s support for camel related activities and their defence across various institutional spheres. It also includes a formal request to the Canary Islands Parliament to adopt a position along the same lines.

The declaration points out that the presence of camels in Lanzarote has been documented since the 15th century, and that their role has been decisive both in agricultural development following volcanic eruptions and in the subsequent evolution towards a unique tourism model. Camel rides in Timanfaya remain regulated and continue to be one of the destination’s most recognisable attractions.