CAMEL OWNERS COMING TO CAPE TO TRAIN

Camel racing is to Mideast countries what horse racing is to the United States.

"We'll be talking a lot about camel racing and how to prepare the camels during the second annual North American Camel Conference next month," said Jim Hale.

The camel conference and training school will be held in Cape Girardeau, Nov. 1 through 6.

"This is a six-day event," said Hale. "The purpose of the event is to expand knowledge for everyone connected with the camel industry."

The conference, to be held Nov. 1, 2, 3 at Drury Lodge, will feature topics on camel health care, camel rearing and some round-table discussions.

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 second three-day session, Nov. 4, 5 and 6 -- the training school -- will be held at 5-H Ranch, which is home to about 80 camels, north of Cape Girardeau.

"There, camel owners will have an opportunity to work with their own animals," said Dave Hale, of the 5-H Ranch, and father of Jim Hale, of Sidney, Mont.

"We have a number of registrations already," said Jim Hale. "People from throughout the United States and a number of Mideast countries and Australia will be on hand."

Many of the camel owners will bring their own camels to train.

The second annual event is expected to attract between 150 and 200 people.

"Hopefully, next year, it will attract even more," said Hale. "this year another training school is being held about the same time, in Morocco."

"We'll have people from Australia, Syria, India and Israel," he said.

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

Among speakers will be Dr. Ahamed Tibary of Morocco, who is teaching this year at Pullman, Wash. Veterinarian College, and Dr. Murray E. Fowler, chief of zoological medicine at the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine.

Some openings for the conference and training school exist. More information is available by contact Jim Hale, (406) 798-3405, or Dave Hale, 243-1479.

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

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, and other exotic animals, are the subjects of buyers and sellers in exotic animal auctions conducted here over the past 15 years.

"Camel racing is big, especially in India, Arabia and Australia," said Hale, who has visited some of these areas and watched camel racing.

"They have large race tracks -- from 7 to 10 miles in length," he said. "The crowd usually huddles around the finish line. Trucks follow and film the race from inside the track, and the crowd watches on large screens."

Camel racing is growing in the United States, said Hale. "They have shorter races."

Some groups in the United States have joined the International Order of Camel Jockeys.

Camel racing, added Hale, is one of the fastest-growing sports in Australia.