Oil and Camel prices – do you have alternative transport strategy

The camels sold as low as the price of a goat in Rajasthan.  As the motorized vehicles became easier to afford and sturdier for the tougher terrains, the demand for this amazing animal had diminished.  Even its population had declined.

Now, the oil prices are shooting up and ethanol cannot help (Petroleum gasoline in US is in the vicinity of $3.40/gallon and the price for Bio-fuels are > $4.80/gallon).  So the earlier premise of low cost is gone!

The people in Rajasthan are smart.  They are back to the camels.  And with the rise in oil prices.. even the price for camels has shot up.  The prices have risen 3 times in last 3 years.  That’s a fabulous return!

A sturdy male with a life expectancy of 60-80 years now fetches up to Rs40,000 ($973), compared to Rs5,000-Rs10,000 three years ago, according to Hanuwant Singh of the Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan, a non-profit welfare organisation for livestock keepers. Entry-level tractors cost around $4,000.

Can we do the same?  Can the folks in the US go back to animal carriages?  I would love to get some horse riding training and start riding the horse to work?  It can’t be more expensive than running a car?  So, do you have an alternative transport strategy.