The Camel
Nature's true nomads.
Camels have lived in some of the most desolate corners of our planet, and not only do they live, they thrive. Most large animals are unable to survive in these kinds of desolate places. This is because of their large requirement for resources such as food and water. Camels are able to use this to their advantage as a survival strategy. By living in deserts, mountains, and other arid places Camels are able to avoid predators, and others who would compete for resources. Camels are only able to do this because of their amazing ability to efficiently use the resources their environments provide. A camel can travel long distances which allow them to take advantage of the maximum number of resources. They can withstand a massive amount of dehydration which allow them to survive not only between watering holes, but sometimes between seasons. When at a watering hole camels are able to gorge themselves and rehydrate quickly. For food, camels are omnivorous. They can eat almost anything be it vegetation, meat, or bone,-- salty or sweet, a camels stomach knows no limits. But it is their temperament that is truly endeared the camel to man. Docile and sweet under a caring hand, but stubborn and angry if ill treated, the camel both wins your heart and your respect.
Arabian Camels
An overview of camels and man in Arabia.
Perhaps nowhere else on earth is more associated with the camel than the Arabian Peninsula. Their story is not one of a free population; however, but of a domesticated animal. Throughout history, Arabian camels have served the needs of humans, and have benefited from that service as a species. Humans have in fact assured the survival of camels for thousands of years and quite literally led them to success as a species that they probably would never have had on their own. The camel has played such an important role in Arab culture that there are over 160 words for "camel" in the Arabic language.The geography and climate have combined to define an entire culture with the camel at its core. This certainly must be seen as high praise of this remarkable animal.
At the beginning of the 18th century, nomadic Bedouins still made up a large percentage of the total Arab population. However, since then, their numbers have sharply declined, starting with the introduction of new Ottoman land laws in the mid 18th century that abolished the communal ownership of land, which is a basic ingredient of nomadic life. In modern times, contemporary governments with their need for taxation, conscription, and political control of their populations, have systematically restricted the movements and power of Bedouins since the early 1900s. And finally, the oil boom and rapid modernization with its economic implications have all accelerated their decline. In the 1960s, nomadic Bedouins represented 10 percent of the total Arab population. By the late twentieth century, they represented only an average of 1 percent.For better or worse, their nomadic way of life will soon be a matter of historical interest rather than survival.
Although chicken is the most widely consumed domestic meat in Saudi Arabia today, camel meat could be the meat of the future especially in health-conscious Western countries. This is because camel meat has no cholesterol and hardly any fat, since the fat is concentrated in the camel's hump, which can weigh up to 80 lbs. (36 kg) and can be easily discarded.If a camel's fat was distributed over it's body like a humans, it would insulate the body and make it harder to cool down.
