The UAE is historically known for its attachment to camels which are of social and economic value all over the region.
The animal is famously known as the ship of the desert because of its walk, which is much like the motion of a ship at sea. Patience is one of its most observable features and camles are generally useful anima. It can, in case of need, remain more than 2 months without drinking and 2 weeks without eating, although when given the chance it will drink and eat every day.
Camels have been throughout history a source of riches and survival for nomadic tribes. Their strength and endurance have served in trade and in war. Their wool, their milk and their meat are useful in everyday life. They are comfortable with people and often enjoy being petted.
Arab as were proud of the number of camels they possessed. The camels were given as a bride’s dowry among the Bedouin tribes. Not to mention its use as payment of “Zakat” the annual portion of a Muslim’s personal fortune that is given as charity to people in need.
The milk camel or breeding camel is raised for the quality of her milk and fur.She is often allowed to wander alone with her herd in the desert and is also used to bring water and food for the Bedouin camp. Happy in human company, she will mark out her territory and will come back to her master’s camp in the evening for the night. The “herd matriarch” will lead the rest of her family home.
Camel milk is more nutritious than cow’s milk since it is heavy in protein. It is one of the basic ingredients of a traditional Bedouin diet (it carries little fat, does not curdle and is difficult to turn into cheese.
A female camel will carry a baby for 12 months before it is born, and it will be nourished on her milk for a year. Twin babies are unheard of. Most camels will live for about 30 years.
Camel milk has also a number of medicinal uses; it is recommended in cases of muscular diseases, in cases of sterility and more recently camel milk and also camel urine is being studied as remedies for cancer.
In Arabic culture, a camel, ‘Jamal’ is assigned a different name every year. For example, a one-year-old camel is called ‘Hewar’ while a two-year-old-camel is called ‘Fateem’. The name keeps changing and the camel is known as ‘Haj’ at three years of age. The other names for the subsequent ages are ‘Liggi’ (four years old), ‘Yethea’ (five years old) and ‘Thani’ (six years old).
A male camel at six years old can also be called ‘Baeer’ whilea female camel of the same age can also be known as ‘Nagah’. There is also a special name for the female camel when she is pregnant, ‘Medni’. The mother of a small camel, is called ‘Ozoof’. The best-known breeds of Arabian camels found in the UAE are the ‘Misk’, Dhabian and ‘Shtoota’ breeds./
Dromedary vs Bactrian
Camelus Dromedarius is characterised by a long-curved neck, deep-narrow chest, and a single hump. Dromedaries are typically sand coloured and have very short hair.
The most noticeable feature of Camelus Bactrianus is two humps. Bactrians sport a dark shaggy coat in the winter, and the long hair that hangs from the necks gives the appearance of a beard. With an average life span of 35.4 years, bactrians may live up to 50 years.
