CAMEL OWNERS COMING TO CAPE FOR TRAINING

The camel college is coming to Cape Girardeau.

The city has been selected as the site for the first-ever North American Camel Conference, a six-day event, starting Thursday, featuring expert camel doctors and camel trainers.

"The purpose of the event is to expand the knowledge of everyone connected with the camel industry," said Dave Hale of 5-H Ranch, home to about 50 camels north of Cape Girardeau.

Information on camels is limited in North America. "This event will give camel owners, zoo keepers, breeders and veterinarians a chance to learn more about the animals," Hale said.

The response to this event has been tremendous, said Maxine Hale of 5-H Ranch.

Topics for the first three-day session at the Drury Lodge, include camel health care, hand rearing and round-table discussions.

The second three-day session is a camel training school, to be held at the 5-H Ranch, featuring one-on-one work with camels.

More than 50 registrations have already been received.

"We have people from 22 states and Canada," said Maxine Hale. The registration list has owners from throughout the United States -- California, Alabama, Texas, Michigan and New York.

Some camel owners will bring their own camels, which can be housed at the 5-H Ranch. The training school will be held indoors at the ranch.

The camel training session is designed to let owners and trainers teach their camels to be ridden, led or driven, said Hale.

Expert camel doctors from around the world will be on the agenda.

Among speakers are Drs. S. Jahangir Akbar and Julian Skidmore, both of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Akbar, chief veterinarian at the Dubai Camel Hospital and veterinary consultant for the Royal Family of Dubai, is considered as one of the top camel veterinarians in the world. Skidmore is a principal scientific officer at the Camel Reproduction Center in Dubai.

Other speakers include Dr. Murray E. Fowler, chief of zoological medicine at the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine; Dr. Linus Huck, an expert in newborn camel care; and Dr. Charmaine Wright of the University of Tennessee.

Trainers at the event will be Bill Rivers of Movieland Animals Jim Hale and John Hale of the 5-H Ranch.

Camels are considered as "exotic animals" in the United States, but in many parts of the world they are work animals.

Millions of people, mostly in Africa and Asia, depend on camels for many of their needs.

The large animals -- they stand 5 to 7 feet tall and weigh 500 to more than 1,500 pounds -- pull agricultural plows and turn water wheels to irrigate fields. They also provide transportation for people and freight.

Camels were the subject of buyers in several exotic animal auctions conducted here during the past few years.

The first North American Camel Conference will feature a live camel demonstration and seminars Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with sessions at the Drury Lodge. The camel training sessions will be at the ranch next Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Registration and a social gathering will get under way Wednesday, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Drury Lodge.