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DINNER IN DESERT
Dubai skyscrapers
Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan (Hail storm March 2009)
Dubai CreekCamels - The Ships (& Milk!) of the Desert
In the UAE, you will actually never find a Camel... shocked?
What I mean to say is: they are actually Dromedaries: Dromedaries have 1 hump. Camels have 2 humps. We only say "camel" because it's shorter & easier...
Vital statistics:
I have a single hump, which is a flesh mound not supported by bones. Everyone thinks I store water, but I actually store fat.
Body length: 10 feet/3 m. Shoulder height: 6-7 feet/2 m. I weigh 1,000-1,500 pounds (450-680 kg)
I have long legs ending in 2 toes beneath which is a broad, callous & elastic pad, making it easy for me to navigate in deep sand.
My lips are thickened to withstand the coarsest of desert plants. My diet in captivity includes hay & grains. Race camels are fed dates, alpha alpha sprouts, fresh greens, barley & their diet is supplemented with vitamin & mineral supplements.
My eyes are heavily lashed for protection in sand storms & a 3rd eyelid acts as a windshield wiper, moving from side to side. A broad ridge of bone above my eyes serves as a sun visor.
My nostrils are slit-like & can close to keep the sand from getting in.
My coloration is fawn or beige & matches the environment.
I have calluses on my knees & chest for sitting down on the hot sand.
I can tolerate a rise in body temperature of 12 degrees! I am even able to drink salt water if I have too! Most animals perish when 20% of their body weight is lost, but I can survive a 40% loss of body weight.
I can drink between 60-100 litres of water in a space of 15 minutes. On average I need only to be watered every 3-4 days. With this system, I can live up to 3 weeks without water, whilst loosing 33% of my weight.
Under the same severe circumstances, a human being would loose 8% of his weight, but die within 36 hours...
I run like a giraffe with both legs on one side of the body moving simultaneously.
The resulting rocking, shuffling gait gave rise to the term *Ship of the Desert*. Arabs have always utilized almost every portion of the camel's body to keep them alive in the harsh desert environment: Tents are made of camel-hair cloth. The meat is said to be low in cholesterol & fat. Skin makes good leather. Dried bones are substituted for ivory. Dung is burned as fuel for the desert campfires. Camel milk is nutritious and low in lactose.
TIP: "Camelicious": Since 2004 we are actually able to purchase fresh Camel milk in local supermarkets. It has an extremely white colour and a slightly sweet taste. I like using it over cereal, and we also use camel milk to give to kittens/puppies, as it is lactose-free! Other selling points are:
It has less that 1/2 the fat of cow's milk.
Rich in Calcium and Vitamin C.
Perfect for people with lactose intolerance!
So go on and have a taste!
