Almost every person at the word "camel" imagines an endless desert and a leisurely caravan. For thousands of years, loaded animals have walked through the uninhabited spaces, connecting different parts of the world. Only the speed of the camel determined the delivery time of the goods. For most, the speed capabilities of, at first glance, very clumsy animals will be a revelation.
Camels
Most recently, literally half a century ago, camels were the basis of the economy of the nomadic peoples of the Arabian deserts. Powerful animals easily overcame impassable sands for transport, delivering everything necessary to the nomads. For economic purposes, widely used (in some regions of the world and now use) two types:
- Dromedaries (one-humped). They are widely distributed on the African continent - from the northern regions to the equator, on the Arabian Peninsula (UAE, Yemen and other countries up to India), in Central Asia (Afghanistan, Iran, Kalmykia, Mongolia, Pakistan). Camels came to Australia along with settlers back in19th century. The total number of livestock is approaching 19 million. There are no more wild dromedaries.
- Bactrians (two-humped). These representatives of the callus-footed suborder as livestock inhabit the entire territory of Asia Minor, northern China, and Manchuria. Wild representatives of bihumps can be found in the southeast of Mongolia, in the Gobi desert, in western China, in the area of the dried-up s alt lake Lopnor. Outwardly, wild camels are distinguished by the absence of chest, elbow and knee calluses.
Light, long-legged, one-humped dromedary runs pretty fast. The maximum speed of a camel in a critical situation can reach 65 km / h. Bactrians are heavier and "accelerate" up to 60 km/h.
Of the numerous artificially bred hybrids, the kama has the highest qualities in terms of carrying capacity. Llama-dromedary hybrid fast and hardy enough for use in rugged mountainous areas.
Move feature
The body of a camel has a format index of 80-90% (the ratio of body length to height). It looks like a rectangle standing on the short side. The center of gravity is high, and the body is less stable than that of an ox or a horse. Walk, amble and gallop are considered natural gaits for the animal.
With a leisurely caravan movement in steps, all limbs work separately. The camel leans on one, repels the other, brings the third forward, lifts the fourth. What speed a camel can develop at the same time depends on the load.
The acceleration of the step leads to the fact that the camel almost simultaneously brings forward first the left limbs, then the right ones. With an increase in playfulness, he finally switches to amble. At the same time, there is no suspension phase, which is characteristic of a normal lynx in ungulates. Going into a gallop, the animal tilts its head and stretches its neck, it looks like a gallop of equids. A camel can gallop with either foot.
Working use
It's not only the patency of camels on the sands and dunes that makes people use them as a vehicle. The very low cost of such transportation also plays a role. The animal feeds on what grows in the desert, drinks in parking lots where there is water. Quietly withstand long transitions of several tens of kilometers at a decent speed (for total off-road):
- loaded animal - up to 4.5 km/h;
- without load - up to 5.5 km/h.
Under a rider, a camel can travel up to 100 km in a day, moving at a speed of 12 km/h. The speed of a camel cannot be high for a long time. Animals rarely go to a gallop and quickly get tired. There is no need to expect special agility from them, all their movements are unhurried and measured. In many countries of the world, Bactrians or hybrid camels are preferred as beasts of burden.
Ancient traditions of the peoples of the world
People, one way or another connected with camels, used animals for entertainment. The camel's running speed made it possible to arrangejump on them. On the Arabian Peninsula, the Bedouins, gathering for their holidays, organized races among their pets. Usually 2-3 riders took part in the race, the distance did not exceed 3-4 kilometers. There are traditions of camel races both in Mongolia and faraway Australia.
Camel racing
After the oil boom and the rapid industrial development of the UAE, camels have lost their relevance. The government of the country, wishing to preserve the original traditions of its people, paid special attention to camel races. To date, about two dozen purpose-built camel running facilities are in operation.
Numerous breeding farms breed animals, focusing on the speed of the camel in breeding. There are training centers. Previously, children took part in the races as riders, but at the beginning of the century a law was passed prohibiting participation in competitions for persons under 15 years old. The "weighting" of the riders led to a decrease in the speed of the camel. The exit has been found. Robots were put on animals. Cars are controlled remotely. Owners are allowed to accompany animals along the track, encouraging them to shout.
From 15 to 70 goals take part in one race. The distance can be from 4 to 10 km. Very strict rules on age selection. Only one-year-olds from one to eight years old can compete, and there are no restrictions on gender. Females run more often, they are easier to train and not as stubborn as males.
The development of the camel racing industry is stimulated not onlywith the full support of the state. Sponsors are attracted, providing participants not only with millions of prizes, but also with expensive gifts, cars, and collectible weapons. It is considered prestigious to have a running dromedary, because among the camel breeders is the Prince of Dubai, Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Cost
The speed of a camel dictates its price. A good runner with an excellent pedigree can cost several thousand dollars. In the United Arab Emirates, a camel with an excellent pedigree was sold for an incredible $910,000 to participate in the race. He is a descendant of the famous Jabar, a multiple winner of races.
Animals are valued not only for their speed. The world's most expensive camel of the Majahim breed was bought at the Camel Beauty Festival in 2008. The price of the beauty was one million two hundred thousand dollars. Dromedaries of this breed are not used on the run, they are valued for their dark (chocolate) coat color, slenderness, graceful bend of the neck.
