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 Camels remain an important part of the Gulf Arab state's heritage.
Camel races and camel beauty pageants are a favorite recreation for
locals, and some beasts fetch millions of dollars at auctions in the
country.
Preserving that heritage is part of the purpose of Dubai Camel
Hospital, which cost 40 million dirhams ($10.9 million) and is the
first of its kind in the world, said Mohamed Al Bulooshi, the
hospital's director.
"We found that we must care for camels not only by breeding and
raising them, but also by being able to medically treat them,"
Bulooshi said.
Staffed by a team of international veterinarians, the hospital, can
treat 20 camels. It's also equipped with a mini-race track to get
the camels up and running after their medical procedures.
Its customized equipment was adapted from equestrian medical
equipment to accommodate camel treatment. A surgery starts at $1,000
and an X-ray or ultrasound at $110.
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The hospital intends to help in the research and development of
camel medicine, Ahsan Ul Haq, the facility's head of marketing and
finance, in an effort "to unfold the secrets of this strange desert
animal," he said.
(Writing by Sami Aboudi, editing by Larry King, Mark Hanrahan)
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