Camels are one of the most iconic symbols of Emirati culture. Every time you visit an airport or a souvenir shop, the first items you will notice on the stands are the stuffed versions that can serve as key chains, soft toys or just plain decoration. As one of the few animals that can survive harsh conditions in the desert, camels have always been a predominant feature of traditional Emirati life.
But have you ever wanted to get to know them just a little bit better? Have you ever wanted to know how to train them? People interested in learning the craft can approach Al Ain Dairy farms to learn, however this is not taught as simply a whimsical hobby to people; you should be intending on using those skills for work.
We caught up with an authentic camel whisperer, Mr Mubarak Al Hameli, who acts as a farm consultant for Al Ain Dairy, and asked him about his role with the camels and how you can learn more about handling them.
Al Ain Dairy farm has over 1,300 camels. Mubarak has been working with the animals for years and is considered an expert handler, and is able to train novices in the ways of camel handling. ‘Camels can be very gentle creatures, or very vicious,’ says Mubarak. ‘If a camel has never had contact with humans, especially the males, then they can be very aggressive towards people.’
Mubarak learned his trade at a young age and his family tended to camels for generations. ‘Ever since I was a little boy, I can remember always being around them.’ Although he learnt the trade early on, people at any stage in life can be taught how to deal with these dromedary creatures.
Al Ain Dairy Farms do accept interested parties who would like to a round of internships; exposing them to all aspects of working with our humped friends. ‘You can also learn how to care for them, as well as butcher them. Camel meat is popular in the UAE,’ says Mubarak.
‘I’ve always loved them, they are very affectionate and pleasant to be around,’ he adds. Mubarak is known within the camel farming community for his ability to train any of them for milking. Having dealt with them since he was young, he is very comfortable being around them and has plenty of tips for people wanting to handle these magnificent ships of the desert.
‘You need to be calm when you are around them, if you’re relaxed then they will be relaxed as well.’ This principle applies to working with most other animals, as they can usually pick up on signals which may be threatening or dangerous.
There is no specific school for someone looking to be a camel trainer; however you would have to work on a camel farm for a long time to properly learn their behaviour. And Mubarak has some final advice for anyone brave and stupid enough to approach one in the desert. ‘Never try to approach a camel in the wild,’ he says. ‘If you are faced with a male, you should run. And their bites can cause some serious damage!’
On the other hand, some camels are very docile, especially the ones that have had some contact with humans. These can be lovely creatures to be around, as they are usually fond of affection and kind words. ‘I really love them,’ he adds. ‘I can’t imagine not seeing them almost every day.’
Ain Dairy Farms (03 783 2111) or visit www.alaindairyuae.com.
