Buy a Camel

There are a variety of reasons someone might want to buy a camel. Some people might need a camel for travel, while others might want a camel as livestock. Whatever your reason for buying a camel, you should be prepared for the time, commitment, and responsibility that comes with owning a camel. This article will help you not only prepare for buying a camel, but it will also give you a few tips on how to buy and choose a camel.

Steps

Getting Ready for a Camel

1. Be prepared for lots of commitment and responsibilities. This is especially important if you plan on keeping the camel beyond your trip or as a pet. Camels can live for 40 to 50 years. They need vaccinations, grooming, and proper nutrition.
   • Consider your cash flow. Camels will cost a lot of money. There's not just the cost of buying and transporting the camel, but also food, equipment, and vaccinations. If your camel gets sick, you will also need to find a specialized vet.
   • If your camel is not properly trained, you may need to spend additional time and money to train it. This will be important when it comes to grooming the camel.
2. Consider what you will be using the camel for. Depending on what you will need the camel for, you may need to make some additional preparations. It is best to make these preparations ahead of time. This way, you will have everything ready for your camel, and you won't have to scramble to make any last minute purchases. Here are some things to keep in mind:
   • If you plan to keep the camel for a pet, you will need a pasture with strong fences and a three-walled shelter. Plan on having at least two acres of land per camel, and to keep them away from horses. Because camels are herd animals, it might be a good idea to keep at least two.
   • If you plan to ride the camel, you will need a saddle, a rope and peg, and blankets. You might also find a camel stick helpful too.
   • If you plan to use the camel to carry stuff for you, you will need additional rope and sturdy sacks.
3. Make sure that you have proper nutrition for the camel. Camels can go for a long time without drinking water, but they need food daily. Before you buy your camel, it might be a good idea to have some food prepared for it. This is especially important if you plan on traveling with your camel to places where it cannot graze.
   • Camels prefer alfalfa hay and oat hay. You can also feed them corn or oats from time to time.
   • Camels need 5 ounces (140 grams) of salt every day. If the camel's food does not already include salt, consider getting a salt block.
   • Make sure that your camel will get enough selenium. A camel will die if it does not get enough selenium. If the camel's food does not already include selenium, you will need to supplement it.
4. Make sure that you are willing to take care of the camel properly. Just like cats and dogs, camels need yearly vaccinations as well. They also need to be trained, not just for riding, but also to handle proper grooming.
   • Camels need yearly vaccinations, such as West Nile virus vaccine. These can be administered by a specialized vet. If you are not willing to give your camel vaccinations, you would end up with a very sick camel
   • Camels need to be groomed. This will keep their thick fur clean of dust and insects. Regular brushing will allow you catch any bites, bumps, or cuts, and to treat them before they get infected.
   • Camels have nails instead of hooves. They will need those trimmed by a vet or farrier. They will need their toenails trimming either by the vet or a farrier.
   • Camels need to be trained to stand still while having their fur brushed and their nails trimmed. They will need additional training if you plan on riding your camel.
5. Sort out any necessary paperwork. Depending on where you live, you might need special clearances, authorizations, and paperwork in order to own a camel. For example, if you live in the United Kingdom, for example, get a DWA license. You need this license to legally keep a camel in the UK.
6. Plan the journey home. Depending on where you live, this can be not only expensive for you, but stressful for the camel. In general, ground-based transportation will be less expensive and less stressful than overseas transportation. If you are using an agency to transport your camel overseas, be sure to ask if they offer any aftercare. Some agencies just drop the camel off at a pre-determined location, and how you get your camel home from there is up to you.

Choosing the Right Camel

1. Decide on breed of camel. This will not only affect the number of humps a camel has, but also its size and fur. For example, the Dromedary has one hump. It tends to be taller, and a natural desert dweller. The Bactrian has two humps and a stocky build. It gets a thick woolly coat in winter, making it ideal for colder climates.
2. Buy a strong camel if you are going to use it for traveling long distances. This is especially important if the camel has to carry supplies, a people, or both. A weak camel can get hurt easily, especially if it is not accustomed to bearing so much weight. Here are some things to consider:
   • Observe the camel's knees when it sits and stands back up again. Look for any signs of shaking or trembling. This is an indicator or weak knees. A camel with weak knees will not be able to safely bear heavy loads.
   • Watch how it walks. If the camel has a limp, this could be a sign of weakness or illness. This could spell problems later on in your journey.
3. Choose a docile, obedient camel if you plan on using it for traveling. Camels are large, strong creatures. A disobedient camel will be difficult to control by strength alone. You also don't want a camel that bites or kicks.
   • A well-trained camel is important not just for riding, but also for grooming purposes. The camel must be able to stand still while being brushed and having its nails trimmed.
4. When choosing your camel, watch how it sits and stands back up again. The movement should be smooth and fluid. This is especially important if you plan on riding a camel. Unlike with horses, the camel must be seated in order for you to get on and off. You can't mount a camel if it is standing. If the camel sits or stands too roughly, you'll be more likely to fall off.
5. Make sure that the camel will accept a rope and peg if you plan to ride it. Camels do not wear bridles and bits like horses do. Instead, the reins are attached to their muzzles through a peg in their nose. If the camel gets fussy while wearing a nose peg, it might not be trained for riding.
6. Make sure that the camel is healthy. An unhealthy camel will only create problems, whether you are going to ride it or keep it as a pet. Check the camel's skin and mouth for any sores. Also, if you can, take a look under its feet. There should be no sores or open wounds. Any of these are indicators of serious medical conditions, which can be disastrous, especially if you are traveling in the desert.
   • Even if you aren't planning on ever riding your camel, you want to get a healthy one. An unhealthy camel will require veterinary care, which can cost a lot.
7. Choose a younger camel between four and eight years old. These camels tend to be experienced enough while being strong and healthy.

Buying the Camel

1. Know where to buy a camel. You do not necessarily have to travel to the Middle East in order to buy a camel. For example, if you live in the United States, you might be able to find a camel breeder in your state.
   • Ethiopia, India, the Gobi desert, and Australia all sell camels. Livestock markets are a great place to start looking.
   • In India, the city of Pushkar has a huge camel festival in October and November.
   • Some organizations will allow you to view and/or select your camel online before you physically travel to the location.
2. Be prepared when you are visiting a market in a foreign country. Sellers may recognize your foreignness and flock to you. Some may be honest and helpful, while others might be less so. The dishonest ones may try to use your foreignness against you and over-charge you.
   • If you are visiting a foreign country to buy your camel, it might also be a good idea to familiarize yourself with that country's culture customs, especially when it comes to business, bartering, and haggling. This will prevent you from appearing rude or disrespectful.
3. Consider bringing a local person with you. This can be a friend or someone you trust. Try to find someone who knows something about camels. This person can help manage the bartering for you, and ensure that you get a fair price.
   • Offer to pay the person who is helping you for their time, travel, and effort.
4. Know that camel prices can vary depending on various factors. Camels will be cheaper during times when they are plentiful, and more expensive when they are scarce. Other factors that might influence the price of a camel may also include any of the following:
   • Its age and sex
   • Whether is it used for meat, milk, or fur
   • Whether it is used for riding or travel
   • How well it is trained
   • Its parentage, especially if it comes from a breeder.
5. Name your camel, unless it already has a name. Choose a name that best matches your camel. Decide based on your fancy, the way they eat or walk, or even just the way they look.

Tips

• Pick a female camel if you are interested in trying delicious, nutritious camel milk.
• If you are a first-time camel owner, consider getting an older camel that is already tamed, trained, and docile.
• Purchase or borrow books on raising camels and visit camel raising websites to find out how to take care of your new camel.

Warnings

• Keep horses away from camels. Horses tend to get spooked by them easily and may react violently.

Things You'll Need

• Barn
• Camel harness
• Water and food for camel

Sources and Citations

See also

• Regain Control of a Spooked Camel
• Ride a Camel