Camel Care

Two of the most popular animals at our petting zoo are the camels, Gomer and CJ. They are enormous animals but are so friendly! Children love feeding them and are fascinated and sometimes freaked out watching the camel’s lip pick up food out of their extended palms. But a real treat is the chance to ride a camel. It’s not every day that you get to ride a camel—unless of course you live in the Middle East!

But have you ever thought about what it takes to saddle up a camel? It’s not just a matter of tossing on a blanket and saddle. The zoo keepers have to comb down the fur so that there is nothing stuck in the hair under the saddle that could irritate the animal; plus, we want our camels to be clean and look their best for our guests. So before the rides begin, our staff needs at least 30 minutes to curry one of the boys. Unless, of course, the camels have found something fun to do! Check out this video!