Now, not that I’m one for stereotypes, but I sometimes find them amusing. Take for example, my Russian heritage – what do I get “ah, snow and vodka, right?”
When it comes to Saudi Arabia, the typical associations that always make my friends chuckle are “ah, sand and camels, right?”
The Arab and the camel have a long, rich history together, one that has had a beautiful development in recent weeks, thanks to an unusual Saudi Arabian campaign. At the end of January, Saudi camel-lovers united to save 6000 Australian camels by… airlifting them to the safety of the Saudi desert!
Get Me Out of Here…
The Australian government announced it would kill 6,000 camels in the Northern Territory at the beginning of February, by firing on them from helicopters, according to the Telegraph.
While camels are seen as a pest in Australia, they are greatly respected in Saudi Arabia. The rescue mission has been warmly received in Saudi Araba, where experienced Arab camel raisers have volunteered to take the Australian rejects and nurture them.
Camels have been a vital and revered part of Saudi Arabia’s heritage and nomadic traditions for centuries, providing transport, food, drink and even friendship!
Does my Hump Look Big in This?
Saudi Arabian camel races are extremely popular sporting events, and each year, the kingdom hosts “beauty” pageants (like cat and dog shows) where a prize camel can earn its Arab owner a fortune in cash.
These animals and their owners are not to be trifled with: in 2009 one Saudi camel owner made a $250,000 damages claim against oil giant, Saudi Aramco, for causing the death of one of his best camels.
Australia is less camel-loving, and the Aussie government has invested A$19million in camel culling since 2005. It argues that the million-strong wild camel population will double within the next decade if action isn’t taken.
The Saudi solution looks like a win-win-win situation to my humble eye: Camels get to breath a sigh of relief, Arabs enhance their culture (and maybe get a rosette and a windfall) and Aussies don’t have to have the hump a minute longer.
Did you know? Arabic has more than 40 terms for different breeds, ages and genders of camels…