Newbie from Australia

[ozcamelgirl]

Hi all!
I've had drom's for about 3 years - I have 2 girls - one young one that I got wild and one older girl. They are the most beautiful animals. Challenging at times, but well worth the small problems.
I'm so pleased to have found a current camel site because most of them seem to be set up and then fade out soon after.
I look forward to keeping an eye on the forum. Strangely enough, there aren't that many people to talk to about the joys and problems of having camels as part of the family!
Best wishes to all

[may]

Hello ozcamelgirl!
Welcome to the forum!
Whereabouts you and your camels live in Aus?
I'll be moving to the Adelaide Hills in September (I am in Germany at the moment).

Have fun here - sure some people around sharing family tales about camels :wave

may

[ozcamelgirl]

Thanks May
I'm in NE Victoria. About 10 hrs from the Adelaide Hills. I know that bit because I was there a couple of months ago - Small world! I head over that way once or twice a year so maybe one day we'll run into each other.

So... will you have camels when you move here? Good camel country in the Hills a bit further away from Adelaide. :)

I know why there are a lot of camels in Australia, but how many are there in Germany? Australia has the deserts and harsh dryness that they just love, and the Afghan cameleers brought them here in ye olden days. How and why did camels get into Germany?

My youngest girl was wild off the Simpson Desert. She was maybe 1 1/2 when I got her a few years ago. Had to train her from scratch, but she has a very regal, calm personality so it wasn't too bad. I remember the first time it was obvious that she accepted me as a leader/companion - I nearly cried!

Enough of boring the forum to death... Good luck with the move.

[may]

Hey Ozziecamelgirl,
thank you for your reply.
Having my/our own camels... still a dream about to come true and lots of work to do...
we've got a lovely some 20-acres spot in the hills where we could have camels, but in winter times like this it is 80% rain. (Unbelievable for Australia - But it is true) ...So it would be a good idea to take the camels trekking into the Middle/North of South Australia/Deserts in winter.
So...there has to be a good fence to be built, a big trailer and a vehicle to cart the camels around - please, can I win in the lottery :rofl

But on the other hand we are soooo lucky already: being able to work for Bush Safari Company and Outback Camel Co from time to time gives my partner and me a good "camel-fix" :D

And you mentioned training your own camel:
I think certainly the best thing to do. It is such a unique situation in Australia, where a 100% wild camels are around. It is such a traumatic situation for the camel and I think the human two, but you can see the progress quickly going on and it is certainly making one cry seeing the camels fear vanish and being able to do things you teach them....
sigh.

Camels in germany... I am discovering this world just know.
Some of them are imported from north Africa I think, and it is very common to have bactrians, too. But it is not common to own camels at all, and I think the most are held in zoos. The other ones are owned by maybe not much more than two dozens of people, as far as I can tell!?

In another thread you mentioned Glenda. Geeze am I thankful that I have met her! It is wonderful how sharing she is with her knowledge.
As a newbie working with animals two years ago it was very important for me to have an insight into the variation and depth of camel's characters and their perception. I admire Glenda for her ability to see every camel in it's own dignity AND to be able to verbalize it in such a clear and detailed way.
Some months ago I found this on the web:
Behind the scenes at Boulia camel races (http://timbonham.com/slideshows/Boulia2007/index.html)
Klick it and you meet Glenda!

All the best to Victoria! -and yeah, maybe we run into each other :-)
may

[Humphrey]

Hey Ozcamelgirl, where abouts in NE Vic? Im in Vic also..
Welcome to the site

[ozcamelgirl]

Hey there Humphrey
Where are you based and do you have camels or are you a MOD (maybe-one-day)? How do you know Glenda and Pete?

I'm about a half hour out of Wodonga. Love the hills!
Don't actually live on a property any more so finding agistment for the girls has proved to be challenging. Recently found a perfect spot with big paddock, strong fences, water supply, etc, right near my house and the owner announced this week he's sold the property. Bum!!! Waiting on the new owners to decide whether they are happy for the girls to stay or not...

Our fall back plan is one of Glenda's paddocks, and I know they'll be wonderfully looked after there. Down side is they are part of the family and it's just that bit too far to go too often. I'd miss them terribly. Shall keep my fingers crossed on the current place.

Must win lotto so I can buy my own perfect camel paddock!:joker

(Anyone else here ever been faced with potentially homeless camels?)

I'm so excited to be able to talk to other people who love camels, especially so many in Australia! It is wonderful. Catchya

[Humphrey]

Im out of Shepparton, so only a couple of hours away from you.
Yes I do have a camel, he is a bull...and because of this a friend has allowed me free agistment, in hope that his camel gets in calf to mine.
I met Peter years before I had my camel (back before he was with Glenda) when he was living out between Congupna and Katunga -across the road from the boarding kennels....he even had a race track set up there for his guys. Out of interest I stopped oneday, and we had a chat, he showed me how to kush a young camel, from start to finish - and that was it I was hooked, seeing just how intelligent they are.
I later met Glenda when her and Peter were doing their 'camel joyrides' at our local school, and occassionally at Kids Town in Mooroopna.
Both lovely people, and great in answering any questions regarding camels.

[ozcamelgirl]

I went to one of Glenda and Pete's 5 day residential training courses at Cosgrove. Within an hour of unloading Tessa, who was domesticated but not trained, Pete had her saddled up and was on her back. I was dumbstruck!

Glenda one day decided to give us experience of camels at a trot (very unnerving experience at that!), but later that day Tessa did a bolt with me on her back and I was ever so glad for the earlier experience!!!:elephant
They have a track at Cosgrove for training (like Peter had I guess) and Tess just kept going around the track for a while with me calmly (!) saying "steady" over and over and eventually she stopped.

Love the rolling walking gait of camels, not quite so keen on the running. Don't know how the camel jockeys do it!

Humphrey - When I have a paddock of my own for the girls, I might invite your bull over for a visit. ;) Has he produced any offspring? What colour is he? How old? Is he a good natured bull or a cranky bully? And why on earth did you get a bull?! I would have been way too nervous to start with one. Young females were challenging enough.

[Humphrey]

Hi OCG..heres a pic of Humphrey...took a little while to gain my confidence, but once he had it, he has proved to be a big lovable oath. He used to want to bite, but I soon turned 'bite' into 'Kiss'

http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/25672/2674180330087896977S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2674180330087896977WQaUYy)

Humphrey originally came from Mildura Zoo when they closed down. He was brought by Mark Austin from the Nagambie Camel Farm, though when he got there he was bullied by Marks older bull camel, so much that it was decided that he would have to go. Mark took him over to Echuca Horse Sales, where I was lucky enough to get him for $80....seems not many horse owners were interested in purchasing a 'bull' camel:D

Humphrey was 4 years old when he left Mildura, and I have now had him for around 4 years, so he's around 8 now. No, he hasnt produced any calves as yet.....but he gets plenty of practise with the big round bales of hay:o

Got any pics of your girls....Humphrey would like to check out whats on the menu:D

[ozcamelgirl]

I've started a photo album here for the girls for anyone who's interested. Just a couple of pics so far. I only realised when I went to do this that most of my pics aren't digital so will have to scan a few in sometime.

The early photos have Tessa with a rope hanging off her halter... that was back before she was tame and the only way to catch her was using a hook on a long stick to grab her training rope. She's come such a long way!!

OCG

[Donna]

WOW, $80 for a camel?!?!?! Here in the US I get $3500. for a baby male camel and $6500 for a female baby!

[ozcamelgirl]

My first camel, wild, straight off the desert, cost $675. She was one of two and it was $1350 all up. At the same time, from the same wild mob, a friend bought a male for about $500 or $550. He's turned out to be a champion racer. That's what she chose him for so she'd be happy about that.
I think even a fully trained camel is only $1000-2000 here.
I guess when there's a million wild droms wandering around northern australia, it makes a dent in the potential value.