The Dubai Camel Hospital was established in 2017 as the world’s first medical centre dedicated exclusively to treating these animals. The construction was valued at 40 million dirhams, or nearly £40 million. The project was designed by Ahmed Saffarini, and when it opened, the hospital could accommodate 20 camels at a time. The facility was located in the desert, close to the Marmoom racecourse, where the camel racing sector is developing intensively. The facility also receives animals bred for dairy production and participating in beauty contests.
The increasing number of camels in the United Arab Emirates, caused by professional racing among other things, necessitated an expansion of operations. In 2019, therefore, the hospital’s capacity was increased to handle 30 patients at a time. Animals come here from different regions of the country and from Oman, and the growing demand has led to further expansion plans.
The importance of camels in the UAE
Camels are one of the symbols of Emirati culture. There are around 300,000 of these animals in the country, and their breeding is growing rapidly thanks to a strong interest in racing and beauty contests. Winners in prestigious competitions, such as the races at the Al Marmoom Heritage Festival or the Al Dhafra Festival events, receive sizeable financial rewards. For this reason, some camels fetch very high prices, especially females, who are considered to be faster during the races. The UAE also hosts polo games on the backs of camels.
The camel hospital in Dubai – interior and facilities
Dubai Camel Hospital currently employs 65 people. The team is made up of veterinarians from various countries, as well as specialists in animal diagnostics and rehabilitation. The hospital’s facilities include medical equipment adapted for large animals, including instruments adapted from equine medicine. There are two operating theatres and a room where owners can observe procedures transmitted in high definition. The range of operations performed is extensive. In the facility, wounds and abscesses are removed, amputations and orthopaedic procedures are performed. Animals are transferred to the operating theatre using a special lift. One of the more advanced instruments is a five-metre-long endoscope, one of the few such instruments in the world designed to diagnose large species.
Animal rehabilitation and care
After surgery, the animals undergo intensive rehabilitation. This includes round-the-clock supervision, physiotherapy and exercises performed with a hoist. Short training sessions on a miniature track located within the facility are also an important part of the recovery. According to the staff, the camels are peaceful animals and cooperate with the caregivers during treatment. The laboratory and pharmacy department is responsible for diagnostics and the selection of drugs for further treatment. This is one of the key parts of the facility providing comprehensive care.
Research and breeding
The hospital is involved in activities related to the conservation of the camel population. Analyses, post-mortems and animal health research projects are carried out. Special programmes address reproduction, and assisted reproduction methods are also used for breeding work. Young camels remain with their mothers for the first few months of their lives and are then sent to centres to prepare them for racing training.
The relationship between man and camel
Research into the emotional bond between camels and their keepers has been growing in recent years. Analyses conducted at UAE veterinary centres indicate that the animals respond to the human voice, recognise regular caregivers and remember behavioural patterns. In cognitive tests, camels show the ability to solve simple tasks and adapt to new situations. Experts emphasise that prolonged contact with humans promotes the formation of a stable relationship based on trust, which is important when working with camels participating in races, shows and breeding programmes.
Camel hospital in Dubai
The facility is preparing the next steps in the development of the hospital’s infrastructure, including the creation of new boxes and the establishment of a department to handle follow-up visits. The management emphasises that camels are an extremely important part of the Emirati heritage and therefore investment in the care of these animals will continue successively.
Source: cnn.com
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