The Mehari camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the Algerian northern Sahara: what are its characteristics and what types of farming vocations adopted in the Ouargla region?

To identify and characterise Mehari farming adopted in the region of Ouargla (Algerian Northern Sahara), 21 farms distributed through four representative zones of the Ouargla region were studied. For this purpose, the methodology embodied a systemic approach with an investigation tool based on interviews conducted through a semi-directive questionnaire. Two homogeneous groups of Mehari farms were identified by multivariate analysis (multiple correspondence factorial analysis (MCFA) and hierarchical ascending classification (HAC)): 67% of the Mehari farms were of a peri- urban and peri-oasis type with a racing vocation and 33% of the systems were of an intra-urban type with a socio-cultural vocation (Fantasia and parade). The study revealed the importance of these types of farming to the local populations, which still anchored in the daily life of local customs and have proven to be a real cultural heritage.