20 years since Rama ‘miracle’

“Rama the Cama” was born 20 years ago this weekend and was the world’s first viable cross between an Old World camel and a South American camelid

RESIZED. United Arab Emirates Defense Minister and Dubai Prince, Sheikh Mohammed Ben Rashed al-Maktoum, plays with the first cross-breeding between a camel and a Llama 19 January. The cross-breeding was carried out at the government veterinary center in Dubai and the male baby has around 60 percent of a camel features. / AFP PHOTO / WAM

Melinda Healy

Jan 11, 2018

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has met countless UAE residents, but this one was of particular significance to the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai back in January 1998.

“Rama the Cama” was born 20 years ago this weekend and was the world’s first viable cross between an Old World camel and a South American camelid – part of the Camelidae family that include llamas and alpacas. Researchers called his birth “a 30-million-year miracle”.

This photograph was taken at the Camel Reproduction Centre in Dubai just a few days after the birth, which took place on a full moon during Ramadan.

Sheikh Mohammed seems enamoured with the baby male, who weighed just 5.5 kilograms and was conceived by a then new and unique method.

Rama lived for about 14 years and his preserved body a permanent reminder of the centre’s achievements.

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Read more:

[ How cars came to the UAE ]

[ Dh40 million Dubai Camel Hospital officially opens in Marmoun ]

[ Al Dhafra Festival 2017: How to spot a beautiful camel ]

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