It is quite common for people from Hoenn to be baffled by the stories told of Numel by travelers, for the stories told of these pokemon bear such little resemblance to the slow, dim-witted beasts of burden from which we get the word "numb". Yet this dramatic difference is nothing more than the impact of climate on a Numel, for just as water causes the magma inside them to harden into rock as if these pokemon were frozen outright, moist air creates just enough magma to numb their reflexes to nearly the speed of a Slowpoke.
In their homes on the edge of deserts, Numel are beloved by all but especially by merchants, for they lead caravans swiftly and effectively across forbidding deserts. They can cross the Sahara without stopping once to eat or drink, although when they arrive at their destination it is true that they soon eat like Snorlax to restore vigor to their hump. They do pose a danger of eruption, although less of one than their evolved form of Camerupt, and most riders wear protective equipment to avoid the risk of severe burns. Yet even this can be beneficial, for if a Numel can avoid erupting (a difficult feat, for generations have failed at training them to erupt on command outside of battle, and the Numel themselves seldom notice the buildup until it is too late) until one is in range, a well-cooked Cacturne can be a feast for trainer and pokemon alike.
Yet even slowed to a crawl as in Hoenn, Numel should not be overlooked. Although these pokemon move at a slow speed, their enormous strength allows them to pull heavy objects and stockpiles of food too heavy for ten men to move, so they are beloved by farmers and construction workers alike.